The vast majority of masses in the pineal region are germ cell tumors, most commonly "germinomas". These masses were originally called "pinealomas" because of their location. In 1952 Neuropathologist Dorothy Russell recognized that many of these masses were similar to testicular seminomas (also called germinoma, dysgerminoma, or atypical teratoma).

Most patients with intracranial germ cell tumors are young males, who may have regional sympotoms and signs sucha as Parinaud syndrome and precocious puberty. Other patients may have non-localizing findings like headache and hydrocephalus.

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• Pineal Region Germ Cell tumors
• Germinoma
• Teratoma
• Endodermal sinus (yolk sac tumor)
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[PubMed REF]
[PubMed REF]
[PubMed REF]

• Pineal Parenchymal Tumors

The WHO classification also recognizes these tumors of the pineal parenchyma:
• ICD-0 9361/1 Pineocytoma (WHO grade 1)
• ICD-0 9362/3 Pineal parenchymal tumor w/intermediate differentiation (WHO 2 or 3) [PubMed REF]
• ICD-0 9362/3 Pineoblastoma (WHO grade 4)
• ICD-0 9395/3 Papillary tumor of Pineal Region (WHO 2,3)

[PubMed REF]