investigations
Last reviewed 01/2018
The investigations for suspected pinealoma are:
- CT scan - demonstrates a mass lesion projecting into the posterior part of the third ventricle with associated dilatation of the third and the lateral ventricles. There may be calcification in the case of pineocytomas; teratomas may contain mixed densities ranging from fat to calcification. All may show enhancement to contrast.
- MRI - helps define the exact relationship to the third ventricle.
- CSF cytology - identifies malignant cells and tumour type
- serum and CSF human chorionic gonadotrophin and alpha-feto protein - positive for germinomas