title: [Usefulness of melatonin in the diagnostics and therapy of pineal gland and brain neoplasms].
abstract: Melatonin or N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine is mainly produced by pineal gland and exhibits characteristic diurnal rhythm of synthesis and secretion with the highest levels at night and low levels during a day. For several years the knowledge of pineal gland and its hormone was rather poor. It was last years when knowledge of the role of melatonin in health and different diseases was developed. Nowadays we are aware that melatonin plays important role in diagnosis and therapy of several diseases, and may be helpful factor also in neurosurgery. Author presents the review of the present knowledge on the role of melatonin in diagnosis of pineal region pathology and treatment of brain tumors.
authors.affiliation: Oddziału Neurochirurgii Dzieciecej Katedry i Kliniki Chirurgii Dzieciecej, Slaskiej Akademii Medycznej w Katowicach. marekman@mp.pl
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mandera
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D010871:Pinealoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin