title: Glioblastoma multiforme of the pineal region.
abstract: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBMs) tumors are exceedingly rare tumors in the pineal region. We present three cases in which patients presented with a pineal/posterior third ventricular region mass and review all the previously reported cases in the literature. Pineal region GBM seems to be a very aggressive tumor with a high rate of leptomeningeal and ependymal metastatic disease. Patients usually present with signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus and Parinaud's syndrome. The clinical and radiological characteristics of pineal GBM do not differentiate it from other malignancies of this region, thus surgical biopsy is generally required for definitive diagnosis. Glioblastoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the pineal region tumors, especially when evidence of leptomeningeal or ependymal metastatic disease is present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Suite 3B409, 30 North 1900 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84132-2303, USA.
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amini
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Salzman
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Couldwell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology; D010871:Pinealoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology