title: Children with dorsal midbrain syndrome as a result of pineal tumors.
abstract: Dorsal midbrain syndrome (also known as Parinaud syndrome and pretectal syndrome) is a well-known complication of tumors of the pineal region. However, there are few reports regarding outcomes, especially in children. The purpose of this study was to report the ophthalmic outcomes in a group of children with pineal tumors treated at a single institution.
  
  
  
  The medical records of pediatric patients diagnosed with pineal region tumors and evaluated at our ophthalmology clinic were studied retrospectively. Descriptive statistics were used to assess rate of dorsal midbrain syndrome, defined as one or more of the following: limitation of upgaze, pupillary light-near dissociation, and convergence retraction nystagmus. Treatment outcomes were recorded.
  
  
  
  A total of 35 subjects (age range, 5 months to 20 years) were included, 18 (51%) of whom were found to have dorsal midbrain syndrome. Of those 18, 16 patients (89%) had limitation of upgaze, 15 (83%) had pupillary light-near dissociation, and 9 (50%) had convergence-retraction nystagmus. Convergence insufficiency was noted in 5 patients (28%); exotropia (either intermittent or constant), in 9 (50%). Improvement in dorsal midbrain syndrome findings following treatment was seen in 7 of 17 patients (41%), but only 2 (12%) experienced complete resolution. Treatment consisted of surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy.
  
  
  
  In our study cohort of children with pineal tumors have a high incidence of dorsal midbrain syndrome. Most cases had residual findings after treatment.
authors.affiliation: Hamilton Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee; Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee. Electronic address: mhoehn@uthsc.edu.
authors.forename: Mary Ellen
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hoehn
authors.affiliation: The Eye Center Surgeons and Associates, Huntsville, Alabama.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calderwood
authors.affiliation: Hamilton Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee; Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Gregory T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Amar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gajjar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015835:Ocular Motility Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D011681:Pupil Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011878:Radiotherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents