Service de Radiothérapie Carcinologique, Institut Salah Azaiz, Tunis.
Published: October 2010
AI Article Synopsis
Article Abstract
Background: the tumours of the pineal region are rare brain tumours, most common in children and characterized by a large clinical and histologic polymorphism.
Aim: to assess the outcome and prognostic factors of 40 patients with primitive pineal region tumours treated at the department of radiotherapy of Salah Azaiz institute.
Methods: between January 1977 and December 2000, 40 patients received radiotherapy. There were 22 adults and 18 children (age < 16 years). The mean age was 20.4 years and sex ratio was 2.07. Histologic diagnosis was confirmed in 11 cases; 16 patients had a CT evaluation after 20 Gy radiotherapy and in 13 cases diagnosis was performed with CT aspects ± germinal tumour markers. Target volume varied; 10 had craniospinal irradiation, 16 had local irradiation and 14 had whole brain irradiation with a boost at the tumour bed. Chemotherapy was proposed for metastases and recurrent diseases.
Results: survival rates were 87% at 2 years and 74, 5% at 5 years. For children, survival rates were 88% at 2 and 4 years. Eight patients (20%) failed locally and 5 patients (12.5%) had metastasis. Age, performance status and large fields of radiotherapy seem to be associated with prognosis and survival.
Conclusion: Pineal tumours and especially germinal tumours are chemosensitive and radiosensitive, care of these tumours is multidisciplinary involving surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. From our study and a review of the literature, we tried to find a therapeutic strategy for tumours of the pineal region.
Disseminated hypopigmented keratosis is a rare distinct clinical entity. This report describes the case of a 19-year-old male patient who developed disseminated hypopigmented keratosis 2 months after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for pineal choriocarcinoma. The patient displayed numerous tiny whitish or depigmented macules and papules on the chest, back, posterior neck, shoulders, arms, and thighs, closely resembling lichen nitidus.
Laboratory of Developmental Chronobiology, Instituto de Anatomía, Histología y Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Gestational chronodisruption, increasingly common due to irregular light exposure, disrupts maternal-fetal circadian signaling, leading to long-term health issues in offspring. We utilized a chronic photoperiod shifting model (CPS) in pregnant rats to induce chronodisruption and investigated the potential mitigating effects of maternal melatonin supplementation (CPS + Mel). Male and female offspring were evaluated at 3 ages (90, 200, and 400 days of age) for metabolic profiles, hormonal responses, cytokine levels, and adipose tissue activity.
Objective: Despite its potential advantages, robotic surgery has yet to be applied to skull base procedures. Complex anatomy and restricted access have limited the development of robotic skull base surgery. The authors' aim was to conduct a feasibility study of robotic surgery for posterior fossa skull base lesions.
Background: Desmoplastic myxoid tumor (DMT) of the pineal region, SMARCB1 mutant is a newly proposed tumor in the 2021 World Health Organization classification of central nervous system tumors. Based on a comprehensive literature review, only 10 cases have been reported so far.
Observations: Here, the authors describe a 50-year-old female who presented with sudden headache and dizziness combined with paralysis of upward gaze.
