Stereotactic radiosurgery for pineal region tumors

Our present treatment strategy for treating pineal region tumors is shown in Figure 5. We believe that stereotactic biopsy should be the first procedure in pineal region tumors so that a histologic diagnosis can be obtained. Based on the biopsy findings, the appropriate subsequent therapy, whether microsurgery, fractionated irradiation, or stereotactic radiosurgery, can be administered. Although our experience currently is limited to nine patients, we have found that stereotactic radiosurgery is a valuable alternative to microsurgery in the treatment of selected pineal region tumors.