Melatonin Synthesis by an Ectopic Pinealoma

Wurtman, Richard J.; Kammer, Huldrick

doi:10.1056/nejm196606022742204

Cited by 31 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Cases of pineal tumors and related melatonin measurements described in the literature Years region [Wurtman et al, 1966;Sano, 1983;Zulch, 19861. These tumors are referred to as pinealomas and have been differentiated from the other two-cell pattern tumors characterized by the absence of NAT and HIOMT activity referred to as germinomas [Wurtman et al, 1966;Zulch, 19861. The identification of two different two-cell-pattern tumors of the pineal region is not recognized by the World Health Organization [Kleihues et al, 19931, which claims germinoma is the only two-cell-pattern pineal region neoplasm.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuroendocrine, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study of pineal region tumors

Grimoldi

Tomei

Stankov

et al. 1998

Journal of Pineal Research

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Thirteen patients with tumors in the pineal region were submitted to pre- and post-operative blood sampling (08:00, 14:00, 20:00, and 02:00 hr) for three or four consecutive days. A single cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample was collected at surgery, and melatonin levels determined. In all patients, serum and CSF beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (betaHCG), carcino embryonic antigen (CEA), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were measured. Histology revealed four pineocytomas, one pineoblastoma, four germinomas, one immature teratoma, one pilocytic astrocytoma, one lymphoma, and one meningioma. Serum and CSF levels of serological biomarkers were normal, except for one of the germinoma cases. In most patients, alteration either in the circadian rhythm or in the melatonin concentration was observed before surgery. In benign neoplasms the circadian rhythm was conserved. In pineoblastoma, lymphoma, and three out of four germinomas, melatonin concentrations were undetectable. In one case of germinoma, melatonin levels were high, with the circadian rhythm being abolished. According to conventional histology, all germinomas were similar. Therefore, in a rare case of pineal germinoma with high melatonin levels, the tissue was subjected to an in depth investigation (immunohistochemical and ultrastructural) in order to determine the pathology and the possible differences from the other typical germinomas. Results were compared to those provided from other pineal neoplasms. Electron microscopy examination detected the presence of clusters of intermediate filaments and numerous electrondense granules only in the case of a germinoma producing melatonin.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuroendocrine, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study of pineal region tumors

Grimoldi

Tomei

Stankov

et al. 1998

Journal of Pineal Research

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“…WU~TMA~ and K~MMER demonstrated a high level of melatonin-forming enzymes, hydroxyindol-o-methyl transferase (HIOMT), in a metastatic tumor from an ectopic pinealoma. They postulated that the tumor could function biochemically as pineal tissue [21]. l~elkin also described a case of metastatic parenchymatous pinealoma, which revealed HIOMT and a high level of serotonin in the abnormal tissue [16].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electron microscopic study of an ectopic pinealoma

1967

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Summary.A specimen from a patient with an ectopic pinealoma located in the third ventricle was investigated by light and electron microscopy.The study has demonstrated many small membrane-limited electron-dense granules in the pinea]ocyte-like principal tumor cells. They were similar to those found in the normal pineal body of mammals and probably represent granules of biogenic amines.The literature of biochemical studies on the secretion of the pineal body and the pinealoma was reviewed as supportive evidence of our ultrastructural findings.Zusammen/assung. Eine Gewebsprobe aus eincm ektopischen Pinealom des 3. Ventrikels wurde licht-und elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. In den Pinealocyten-~hnlichen Hauptzellen des Tumors wurden viele kleine membranbegrenzte elektronendichte Granula nachgewiesen. Sie waren tLhnlich denen in normalen Pblealiszellen der S~uger und entspreehen wahrscheinlich Granu]a biogener Amine. _&us der Literatur fiber biochemische Untersuchungen fiber die Sekretion der Pinealis und des Pinealoms ergeben sich unterstfitzendc Argumente zu der Deutung der eigenen ultrastrukturellen Befunde.

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“…Many case reports and series from the 1960s describe abnormalities in melatonin secretion in the setting of pineal masses. 13,18,[39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48] In a review completed in 2015, Rousselle and colleagues concluded that few if any pineal parenchymal cell tumors consistently produce a hypomelatoninemic or hypermelatoninemic state. 49 They suggest that reported symptoms of pineal masses such as sleep or behavioral problems represent hypothalamic extension rather than abnormalities of melatonin secretion.…”

Section: Biomarkers For Pineal Parenchymal Cell Tumorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomarkers of Pineal Region Tumors: A Review

Carr

O’Neill

Hochhalter

et al. 2019

TOJ

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Background:The pineal gland, a small, pinecone-shaped organ deep within the brain, is responsible for producing melatonin. The gland consists of pineal parenchymal cells and glial cells that can form neoplasms. Pineal region neoplasms can also arise from germ cells and adjacent structures. This review focuses on detection of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of germ cell tumors and pineal parenchymal cell tumors, as these types comprise most neoplasms specific to the pineal region. Methods: For this review, we searched PubMed using the following keywords: biomarkers, germ cell tumor, germinoma, melatonin, pineal, pineal gland, pineal neoplasm, pinealoma, pineal parenchymal cell tumor, pineal region, and pineal tumor. We limited our search to full-text English articles and identified other relevant sources from the reference lists of identified articles. Results: Serum and CSF biomarker assays have a role in cases of suspected pineal germ cell or parenchymal neoplasms. Biomarkers including alpha-fetoprotein, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin, and placental alkaline phosphatase inform diagnosis and treatment and are important for monitoring germ cell tumor response to treatment. No biomarkers are currently available that inform diagnosis or treatment of pineal parenchymal tumors, although melatonin assays may have a role in monitoring response to treatment. Conclusion: Serum and CSF biomarkers in conjunction with clinical and radiographic evidence of a pineal region mass can inform the decision whether to undertake stereotactic biopsy or surgical excision or whether to proceed straight to medical treatment.

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Melatonin Synthesis by an Ectopic Pinealoma

Cited by 31 publications

References 19 publications

Neuroendocrine, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study of pineal region tumors

Neuroendocrine, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study of pineal region tumors

Electron microscopic study of an ectopic pinealoma

Biomarkers of Pineal Region Tumors: A Review

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