Idiopathic scoliosis and pineal lesions in Australian children

Day GA, McPhee IB, Tuffley J, Tomlinson F, Chaseling R, Kellie S, Torode I, Sherwood M, Cutbush K, Geddes AJ, Brankoff B
University of Queensland, Australia

PURPOSE. To determine whether treatment of pineal lesions in children is associated with development of idiopathic scoliosis.

METHODS. 38 boys and 10 girls with pineal lesions were identified. Their mean age at presentation was 10 years. The pineal pathology varied from cysts and epidermoid to teratoma, germinoma, pineocytoma, and glioblastoma. Treatment ranged from biopsy/extirpation to radiotherapy.

RESULTS. 12 patients died. No scoliosis was found in any females or any of the deceased. Two boys had scoliosis: one had a 12-degree right upper thoracic curve with 32-degree kyphosis and the other had a 60-degree right thoracolumbar idiopathic curve, requiring a 2-stage arthrodesis.

CONCLUSION. Pineal ablation is not related to the development of idiopathic scoliosis in humans.