A pineal gland cyst is a usually benign (non-malignant)
cyst
A cyst is a closed sac, having a distinct envelope and division compared with the nearby tissue. Hence, it is a cluster of cells that have grouped together to form a sac (like the manner in which water molecules group together to form a bubble) ...
in the
pineal gland, a small
endocrine gland
Endocrine glands are ductless glands of the endocrine system that secrete their products, hormones, directly into the blood. The major glands of the endocrine system include the pineal gland, pituitary gland, pancreas, ovaries, testes, ...
in the brain. Historically, these fluid-filled bodies appeared on of
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans, but were more frequently diagnosed at death, seen in of autopsies.
A 2007 study by Pu ''et al''. found a frequency of 23% in brain scans (with a mean diameter of 4.3 mm).
Despite the pineal gland being in the center of the brain, due to recent advancements in endoscopic medicine, endoscopic brain surgery to drain and/or remove the cyst can be done with the patient spending 5-10 nights in the hospital, and being fully recovered in weeks, rather than a year, as is the case with open-skull brain surgery.
The
National Organization for Rare Disorders
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is an American non-profit organization aiming to provide support for individuals with rare diseases by advocating and funding research, education, and networking among service providers. It wa ...
states that pineal cysts larger than 5.0 mm are "rare findings" and are possibly symptomatic. If narrowing of the cerebral aqueduct occurs, many neurological symptoms may exist, including headaches, vertigo, nausea, muscle
fasciculations, eye sensitivity, and
ataxia
Ataxia is a neurological sign consisting of lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements that can include gait abnormality, speech changes, and abnormalities in eye movements. Ataxia is a clinical manifestation indicating dysfunction of ...
. Continued monitoring of the cyst might be recommended to monitor its growth, and surgery may be necessary.
[Pineal Cysts, Symptomatic, ]National Organization for Rare Disorders
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is an American non-profit organization aiming to provide support for individuals with rare diseases by advocating and funding research, education, and networking among service providers. It wa ...
Additional images
File:Brain MRI 0037 10.jpg, MRI axial in false color
File:Pinealiszyste 32jw - MRT T2 sag - Annotation - 001.jpg, Another case: sagittal
References
Further reading
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* {{cite journal , last1=Gore , first1=Pankaj A. , last2=Gonzalez , first2=L. Fernando , last3=Rekate , first3=Harold L. , last4=Nakaji , first4=Peter , title=Endoscopic supracerebellar infratentorial approach for pineal cyst resection: technical case report , journal=Neurosurgery , volume=62 , issue=3 Suppl 1 , pages=108–9; discussion 109 , year=2008 , pmid=18424974 , doi=10.1227/01.neu.0000317380.60938.79
External links
Pineal Cyst Images and Radiological Findingsradiopaedia.org article - Pineal Cyst
Central nervous system disorders
Neuroendocrinology
Cysts