Twelve cases of tumours of the pineal region were analysed under the clinical, laboratorial and radiological viewpoints. In 6 cases the diagnosis was based only on the clinical and radiological (particularly ventriculogramortem examination. The survival from 3 to 9 years, in 4 cases submitted to the conservative treatment including intra or extracranial shunts follow by cobalto-therapy, supports the indication of the procedure adopted.