Staging for children with pineoblastomas is the same as that performed for children with medulloblastoma.[1] Dissemination at the time of diagnosis occurs in 10% to 30% of patients.[1] Because of the location of the tumor, total resections are uncommon, and most patients have only a biopsy or a subtotal resection before postsurgical treatment.[1,2] Prognosis is worse for patients with disseminated disease at the time of diagnosis.[1]

References

1. Jakacki RI, Zeltzer PM, Boyett JM, et al.: Survival and prognostic factors following radiation and/or chemotherapy for primitive neuroectodermal tumors of the pineal region in infants and children: a report of the Childrens Cancer Group. J Clin Oncol 13 (6): 1377-83, 1995.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
2. Timmermann B, Kortmann RD, Kühl J, et al.: Role of radiotherapy in the treatment of supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors in childhood: results of the prospective German brain tumor trials HIT 88/89 and 91. J Clin Oncol 20 (3): 842-9, 2002.  [PUBMED Abstract]