Pineal gland
The pineal gland is thingy that is most noted for the fact that it calcifies with age.
Normal histology
- Cellular.
Overview
Tumours:[1]
- Primary pineal tumours ~15% of (pineal) tumours - benign to malignant:[2]
- Pineocytoma.
- Pineal parenchymal tumor of intermediate differentiation.
- Pineoblastoma.
- Germ cell tumours:
- Germinoma ~ 50% of (pineal) tumours.
- Teratoma ~ 15% of tumours.
- Choricocarcinoma ~ 5% of tumours.
- Others:
- Direct invasion/extension from surrounding structures (astrocytomas).
- Metastases.
- Lipomas.
- Meningiomas.
Primary pineal tumours
Range from benign to malignant.
Pineocytoma
General
- Benign tumour of the pineal gland.
- WHO Grade I.
Microscopic
Features:
- Cytologically benign cells (uniform size of nuclei, regular nuclear membrane, light chromatin).
- Pineocytomatous/neurocytic rosette = (irregular) rosette with a large meshwork of fibers (neuropil) at the centre.[3]
- Similar to Homer-Wright rosette... but:
- Neuropil centre is larger in pineocytoma.
- Edge of neuropil meshwork irregular.
- Similar to Homer-Wright rosette... but:
IHC
- Synaptophysin +ve.
- Chromogranin A -ve.
- NSE +ve (cytoplasmic + nuclear).
- GFAP -ve.
- PLAP -ve.
- Ki-67.
See also
References
- ↑ Gaillard F, Jones J (October 2010). "Masses of the pineal region: clinical presentation and radiographic features". Postgrad Med J 86 (1020): 597–607. doi:10.1136/pgmj.2009.087460. PMID 20971711.
- ↑ Smith AB, Rushing EJ, Smirniotopoulos JG (November 2010). "From the archives of the AFIP: lesions of the pineal region: radiologic-pathologic correlation". Radiographics 30 (7): 2001–20. doi:10.1148/rg.307105131. PMID 21057132.
- ↑ Wippold FJ, Perry A (March 2006). "Neuropathology for the neuroradiologist: rosettes and pseudorosettes". AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 27 (3): 488–92. PMID 16551982.