Pineoblastoma

Pineoblastoma is a cancerous (malignant) brain tumor in your pineal gland. This type of cancer grows quickly and can spread to tissue and fluid around your brain.

What is the pineal gland?

The pineal gland is a tiny, pinecone-shaped gland in the middle of your brain. This gland secrets the hormone melatonin, which helps regulate your body’s circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythms are changes that your body makes to follow a 24-hour cycle. This helps you stay awake during the day and fall asleep at night.

What type of cancer is pineoblastoma?

Pineoblastoma is a fast-growing tumor in your brain. Healthcare providers might also refer to this as a grade 4 intracranial brain tumor. You might also hear it called a malignant tumor, which means it’s cancerous.

How common is pineoblastoma?

Pineoblastoma is very rare. Pineal gland brain tumors account for less than 0.2% of all brain tumors diagnosed in the United States. This type of cancer is most common among children or people younger than 20 years old but it can affect anyone at any age.