A pineal tumour is a type of brain tumour that starts in the cells of the pineal region of the brain.
The pineal region is named after the pineal gland, which lies at the back of one of the fluid filled chambers (the third ventricle) towards the back of the brain.
The pineal region is made up of a number of different types of cells. If one of these cells becomes abnormal a pineal tumour can develop.
Depending on which type of cell has become cancerous a pineal tumour may be a
- germinoma
- teratoma
- pinealoma
- glioma
Pineal tumours are rare but germinomas are the ones that are most often seen. Germinomas occur most frequently in teenagers. The other types of pineal tumour are more often seen in children than adults.