Pineal and Third Ventricle Tumours in the CT and MR Eras

We have experienced 29 cases of tumour in the pineal region and posterior third ventricle in the CT and MR eras (from 1976 to 1989). An aggressive surgical removal was performed except for germinomas and suspected germinomas. The aggressive surgical cases were 5 teratomas including one inclusion foetus, one yolk sac tumour, 3 astrocytomas, one neurocytoma, one cavernous haemangioma and one telangiectasia. The surgery was performed by either the infratentorial supracerebellar approach or the occipital transtentorial approach. There was no surgical death and the quality of postoperative survival was good in patients with benign tumours. The cases of a typical teratoma, teratoma with an arterio-venous shunt, inclusion foetus, haemorrhagic nodule of telangiectasia etc. are briefly presented. A remarkable progress in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of tumours in the pineal region in the CT and MR eras is noted in our results.