Neuroradiological characteristics of pineocytoma and pineoblastoma

Abstract

We reviewed neuroradiological images in two histologically proven cases of pineocytoma and three of pineoblastoma to delineate the characteristic features of these rare tumours. CT revealed isodense or slightly hyperdense masses with central or peripheral calcification; enhancement with contrast medium tended to be homogeneous in pineocytomas and heterogeneous in pineoblastomas. In the pineocytomas, T1-weighted images revealed rounded, sometimes or slightly lobulated low-signal masses with strong, homogeneous contrast enhancement. Their margin was clear, without invasion of adjacent structures. In the pineoblastomas, however, T1-weighted images revealed multilobulated tumours with heterogeneous contrast enhancement. All three pineoblastomas had poorly defined margins with adjacent structures such as the posterior thalamus or corpus callosum, suggesting a more invasive nature. T2-weighted images revealed nonspecific high signal lesions in all five case.