There are three types of pineal tumours:
- Pineocytoma: a slow-growing grade II tumour.
- Pineoblastoma: a more aggressive grade IV malignant tumour.
- Mixed Pineal Tumour: contains a combination of cell types.
These tumours represent approximately one percent of all brain tumours, and tend to occur in young adults. They have the potential to spread along the spinal column, but not to other organs. They start in or around the pineal gland, which is in the centre of the brain.
Treatment typically involves radiation therapy, which is sometimes followed up by chemotherapy.
Information taken from American Brain Tumour Association.