[Primary leiomyosarcoma of the pineal gland--a case report]

Primary sarcoma in the central nervous system is rare. From 1954 to 1986, 1417 neoplasms of the central nervous system were treated in our hospital and only one case of primary leiomyosarcoma of the pineal gland was seen. The patient, a forty-seven year old man, had diplopia for 2 months, headache and ataxia for 2 weeks before admission. The CT scan showed a space occupying lesion in the pineal gland. During operation, a mass, 3 x 2.5 x 2 cm in size, was found in the pineal and subtotal resection was performed. The pathological diagnosis of primary leiomyosarcoma of the pineal gland was established. The patient died the next year of the operation. Finally, the histogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and differential diagnosis are discussed with a review of literature.