[Tumor of the pineal region in three brothers]

Occurrence of tumor of pineal region in three brothers was presented and previously reported cases of familial occurrence of primary intracranial tumor were reviewed. Two cases were diagnosed as germinoma clinically. The other case was diagnosed as embryonal carcinoma by pathohistological examination. All cases were of germ cell tumor. Reports of pineal tumors occurring in siblings are extremely rare. There have been three reports in the literature but no case of familial occurrence of histologically verified germ cell tumor in the pineal region in three siblings has been reported. Genetic aspects of primary intracranial tumors have been discussed but there has not been established a close relationship between heredity and oncogenecity. This case is a very interesting case because it is not only a rare case of familial occurrence of pineal tumor but it suggests the propriety of the theorum dealing with germ cell origin tumor.