BACKGROUND: Pineal region tumors represent a rare and histologically diverse group of lesions. Few studies are available to guide management and the outcomes after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). METHODS: Patients who underwent SRS for a pineal region tumor and for whom at least 6 months of imaging follow-up was available were retrospectively assessed in 5 centers. Data were collected from the medical record and histology level analyses were performed, including actuarial tumor control and survival analyses. RESULTS: A total of 70 patients were treated between 1989 and 2014 with a median follow-up of 47 months. Diagnoses were pineocytoma (37%), pineoblastoma (19%), pineal parenchymal tumor of intermediate differentiation (10%), papillary tumor of the pineal region (9%), germinoma (7%), teratoma (3%), embryonal carcinoma (1%), and unknown (14%). Median prescription dose was 15 Gy at the 50% isodose line. Actuarial local control and survival rates were 81% and 76% at 20 years for pineocytoma, 50% and 56% at 5 years for pineal parenchymal tumor of intermediate differentiation, 27% and 48% at 5 years for pineoblastoma, 33% and 100% at 5 years for papillary tumor of the pineal region, 80% and 80% at 20 years for germinoma, and 61% and 67% at 5 years for tumors of unknown histology. New focal neurological deficit, Parinaud syndrome, and hydrocephalus occurred in 9%, 7%, and 3% of cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SRS is a safe modality for the management of pineal region tumors. Its specific role is highly dependent on tumor histology. As such, all efforts should be made to obtain a reliable histologic diagnosis.

Department of Neurological Surgery Center for Image Guided Neurosurgery University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA

Department of Neurological Surgery University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia USA

Division of Neurosurgery Department of Surgery Université de Sherbrooke Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke Québec Canada

Na Homolce Hospital Prague Czech Republic

Taipei Veterans General Hospital Neurological Institute Taipei Taiwan

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