title: Pineal ganglioglioma in a young girl: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Gangliogliomas are exceedingly rare in the pineal region. We present the case of a 16-year-old girl diagnosed with a pineal-region mass, initially diagnosed as a germ-cell tumor on the frozen section examination. The tumor was resected completely despite the frozen section results. The final pathological diagnosis was that of a ganglioglioma. This diagnosis obviated the need for postoperative adjuvant therapy. Gangliogliomas, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the pineal region tumors. Frozen section results can be misleading since the large neuronal cells can mimic germ cells. Gangliogliomas are not sensitive to adjuvant therapy. Initial gross total resection should be attempted if the anatomy is favorable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, USA.
authors.forename: Gabriel C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Tender
authors.forename: Roger D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D018303:Ganglioglioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010784:Photomicrography; D010871:Pinealoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery