Clinical Evaluation and Follow up on the Pineal Tumors

Hong, Ke Ho; Kim, Tae Seong; Kim, Kwang Myung; Kim, Gook Ki; Rhee, Bong Arm; Leem, Won

Abstract

Authors experienced fifteen cases of the pineal tumors during about 5 years from October, 1977 to September, 1982, which were diagnosed with brain C-T scanning. The details of clinical evaluation and follow up of 15 cases of the pineal tumors are presented. The following results were obtained. 1) The age group below age of 20 years in predominant and include 11 cases(73%) of 15 cases, and male is predominantly much than female. 2) On the neurological examination at admission, the RICP signs were showed in 15 cases, Parinaud's syndrome showed in 6 cases, cranial nerve palsy in 8 cases and DI symptom in 5 cases of all 15 cases. 3) In the follow up study, brain CT was more effective than any other conventional neuroradiologic technique. 4) 8 cases of all 15 cases have had normal life in follow up period with minium of 6 months and maximum of 6 months and maximum of 5 years, and one case with mild neurological deficit has been spent life for about 12 months. 5) Of 6 cases died within 2 years, 3 cases had insufficient treatment and 3 cases had sufficient treatment, of whom ond had tumor recurrence at primary site and dissemination to spinal epidural space and other two cases were suspected to have clinical dissemination to spinal cord. 6) On the basis of high survival rate in 9 cases of 12 cases who were treated completely, we thought that good survival rate in the patient with pinealoma will be resulted from a series of planed treatment, including early diagnosis, correction of hydrocepalus, surgical intervention and irradiation.