Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma of the pineal region.

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas are indolent, astrocytic tumors usually located in the superficial cerebral cortex. They have not been described as occurring in the pineal region. We describe a patient with an astrocytic tumor arising in the pineal region that fulfilled all of the morphologic and immunohistochemical criteria of a pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma located in the pineal region.