Pineal region tumours

Pineal region tumours are rare brain tumours. They start in the pineal gland or the tissues around it.

The pineal gland is in the middle of the brain, just behind the brain stem. It makes the hormone melatonin that controls sleep.

Tumours in this part of the brain can block the cerebrospinal fluid channels. The cerebrospinal fluid is a clear fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and the spinal cord.

Blocking the cerebrospinal fluid can cause a build up of fluid in one area of the brain. This can lead to increased pressure (hydrocephalus). Symptoms of increased pressure include headaches and feeling sick.

Find out more about symptoms of increased pressure inside the brain

How common it is

Pineal region tumours are rare. Less than 1 in every 100 brain tumours (less than 1%) start in the pineal gland region. They are more common in children and young people than adults.

Treatment for pineal region tumours

Treatment depends on the type of tumour you have.

Treatment for germ cell tumours

For a germ cell tumour, you usually have radiotherapy or a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. For some people, this is the only treatment they need. Other people might have an operation to remove any remaining tumour. 

If the germ cell tumour comes back, you might have more chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Read about chemotherapy and radiotherapy for brain tumours

Treatment for pineal gland tumours

Treatment depends on the type and grade of pineal gland tumour you have. For a pineocytoma, you usually have surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible. This might be all the treatment you need. Or, your doctor might recommend that you have radiotherapy after surgery. This is to stop the tumour from coming back.

For high grade tumours, such as pineoblastomas, you might have surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Find out more about surgery for brain tumours

Surgery to drain a build up of fluid on your brain (hydrocephalus)

Pineal gland tumours can cause a build up of cerebrospinal fluid on one area of the brain. The excess fluid increases the pressure on the brain which can be serious. This is called hydrocephalus. 

You might have surgery to place a shunt if you have this. The shunt is a thin tube that is put in the brain to allow the fluid to flow elsewhere.  

We have more information about surgery to remove fluid from the brain

Coping with pineal region tumours

Coping with a diagnosis of a brain tumour can be difficult, both practically and emotionally. It can be especially difficult when you have a rare tumour. Being well informed about the type of tumour you have, and its treatment can make it easier to cope.  

Find out what you can do, who can help and how to cope with a brain tumour