Pineal Anaplastic Ependymoma - A Rare Entity

Anaplastic ependymoma in the pineal region is rare. Here, we present a rare case of anaplastic ependymoma of the pineal region on a 42-year-old woman who came to our hospital with headache associated with blurring of vision since one month. MRI brain showed a contrast enhancing mass lesion measuring 30 × 30 × 35 mm in the pineal region with obstructive hydrocephalus. Initially, the ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt was done, followed by total tumor excision by the infratentorial supracerebellar approach. Histopathological and immunohistochemistry examinations of the tumor showed the features of anaplastic ependymoma (WHO Grade III). Patient made uneventful recovery and underwent radiotherapy. Only 12 cases of pineal ependymoma have been reported so far, of which only three have been anaplastic ependymoma.