These include several acute symptoms, such as increased intracranial pressure syndrome from obstruction of the aqueduct of Sylvius and consequent hydrocephalus, and Parinaud syndrome. Pathologic processes involving the pineal region produce signs and symptoms related to the mass effect on the adjacent tissues and invasion of surrounding structures. Signs and symptoms of pineal gland pathology One of the primary roles of the pineal gland is in the generation and regulation of biological rhythms producing melatonin ( 51) it is also implicated in the onset of puberty and reproductive functions. The pineal gland is not isolated by the blood-brain barrier, and therefore enhances after contrast medium administration ( 9). Histologically, the normal pineal gland is composed by pineocytes (95%)-specialized neuron related to the retinal rods and cones-and astrocytes (5%), within a fibrovascular stroma. The pineal gland is connected through the pineal stalk to the posterior roof of the third ventricle ( 10, 49, 50). In approximately 40% of individuals, concentric calcifications are present within the pineal gland, although its significance is still not completely understood. The pineal gland (epiphysis) is a small structure (about 5 mm, weighing about 100 mg) located in the midline, above the tentorium and below the splenium of the corpus callosum. The purpose of this article is to review the normal and main pathologic findings in pineal gland diseases, with a particular focus on the neuroimaging of those pathologies causing acute symptomatology and that can be encountered in the emergency setting. Computed tomography ( 11- 15), and mostly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ( 16- 21), play a key role for the instrumental diagnosis and in the interventional radiology setting, especially in the neuroradiological field ( 22- 44), while limited applications are reserved to US and conventional radiographic examination ( 45- 48). The development of symptoms is due to the mass effect, and in some cases the onset can be acute, requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment. The pineal gland region is a complex anatomical region where a spectrum of histologically different types of benign and malignant tumors can arise, and can also be affected by many entities seen more frequently elsewhere in the brain ( 1- 10). Keywords: Brain tumors emergency magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pineal gland Tiberio”, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy 3Radiology Department, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy 4Department of Radiology, Ospedali Riuniti, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, ItalyĬontributions: (I) Conception and design: A Splendiani, A Barile (II) Administrative support: C Masciocchi, A Barile (III) Provision of study materials or patients: A Splendiani, F Bruno (IV) Collection and assembly of data: F Bruno, F Arrigoni, N Maggialetti, R Natella (V) Data analysis and interpretation: F Bruno, R Natella (VI) Manuscript writing: All authors (VII) Final approval of manuscript: All authors.

Policy of Dealing with Allegations of Research Misconductįederico Bruno 1, Francesco Arrigoni 1, Nicola Maggialetti 2, Raffaele Natella 3, Alfonso Reginelli 3, Ernesto Di Cesare 1, Luca Brunese 2, Andrea Giovagnoni 4, Carlo Masciocchi 1, Alessandra Splendiani 1, Antonio Barile 1ġDepartment of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy 2Department of Life and Health “V.Policy of Screening for Plagiarism Process.

Incidental pineal cyst