Pineal gland tumor
September 1, 2011 | 15,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Ralf Berg
I had a CT scan done two days ago and it was determined that there is a mass tumor in my pineal gland. Since I was examined at the American hospital and they have a long weekend, I cannot make an appointment until Tuesday, but I do not want to wait that long to find out what exactly a tumor in the pineal gland means and what to expect.
I have read online and I believe my doctor meant the parotid gland (salivary gland) as the tumor is located directly under the ear. What can I expect in this case and what will be done in such a situation?
Thank you.
Hello,
here there is first of all a Babylonian confusion of languages:
The Pineal Gland is the English term for the pineal gland.
This gland is located in the middle of the brain above the pituitary saddle.
However, if you have the information that the "MasseTumor" is located below the ear, then this cannot possibly refer to the Pineal Gland.
The Parotid Gland = Parotis (Latin) or parotid gland is paired and extends below the ear forward within the left and right cheek. It has an excretory duct that opens into the mucosa of the mouth in the front third of the cheek.
Like all tumors, parotid tumors can be benign or malignant. The measures taken naturally depend on this. Sometimes only the excretory duct for saliva is blocked and the secretion (oral saliva) simply accumulates.
Benign parotid tumors = here in the sense of space-occupying lesions are mostly viral in origin and cause swelling of the glandular tissue. The most well-known is the mumps virus, which often leads to swelling of the parotid glands on both sides. The treatment is always conservative, giving anti-inflammatory medications until the infection is over.
If it is a solid tumor, a biopsy or tissue sample can determine the tumor type and then decide if surgery and/or chemotherapy are possible.
Unfortunately, you do not mention what symptoms led to the CT scan. From this history, one can generally already conclude whether it is more likely to be an inflammatory process, a salivary retention, or rarely a solid tumor.
I hope I could explain to you in a way that is understandable what to expect, and I also believe that it is the Parotic Gland instead of the Pineal Gland.
Best regards, Dr. R. Berg
