To which other tumours are pineoblastomas closely related, and thus share histology and imaging features?
Other intracranial small round blue cell tumours such as PNET, medulloblastoma and ependymoblastoma.
Which orbital tumour are they also closely related to, and seen in association with?
There is a well established association with hereditary retinoblastomas. Patients with hereditary (bliateral) retinoblastoma 5-15% develop midline (suprasellar or pineal) neuroblastic tumours. Such cases are sometimes referred to as trilateral retinoblastoma.
A large mass ( * ) centred on the pineal region elvates, splays and partially engulfs the internal cerebral veins (blue arrows). Pineal calcifications (red arrows) are best seen on CT and are located at the periphery of the mass.
Enhancing soft tissue is also seen filling the floor of the third ventricle (green arrows) and in the lateral ventricles (best seen in the left forntal horn - yellow arrow).