Pineal Body Tumor: An Overview of the Pathophysiology
Edim Glory
All Saints University, College of Medicine, Saints Vincent and the Grenadines.
Okundaye Daniel
All Saints University, College of Medicine, Saints Vincent and the Grenadines.
Udoaka Favour
All Saints University, College of Medicine, Saints Vincent and the Grenadines.
Adijat Oyewole
All Saints University, College of Medicine, Saints Vincent and the Grenadines.
Kevin Browne
All Saints University, College of Medicine, Saints Vincent and the Grenadines.
Adedeji Okikiade *
All Saints University, College of Medicine, Saints Vincent and the Grenadines.
Olayinka Afolayan-Oloye
All Saints University, College of Medicine, Saints Vincent and the Grenadines.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The pineal gland is a small endocrine gland in the brain that regulates the circadian rhythm in humans. It is responsible for melatonin production, also produced by parenchymal and glial cells. Pineal region tumors account for 3–11% of pediatric brain tumors, and 1% of adult brain tumors according to World health Organization (WHO). These tumors arise from the germ cells, pineal cells, and adjacent structures. It is fundamental for medical knowledge (clinical and laboratory) to differentiate and identify the various types of pineal gland tumors and thus facilitate accurate diagnosis with crafted therapeutic management of the pathology accompanying its incidence. There exist different histological subtypes of pineal body tumors and various management options like surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The review article is a student’s project on integrated learning, aiming at understanding the pathophysiology of the rare pineal body tumor.
Keywords: Brain neoplasia, pineal body tumor, pineoloma, pineal gland, pineocytoma, melatonin