"Conservative" surgical approach and early postoperative radiotherapy in a patient with a huge cystic craniopharyngioma.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The treatment of huge craniopharyngiomas represents a therapeutic challenge for neurosurgeons. Some authors prefer to run the high risks of total removal at primary surgery, while others do not despise subtotal removal in accordance with a multidisciplinary treatment.

METHODS:

We report the case of a 17-year-old girl who underwent subtotal removal (tumour remnant with maximum diameter of 2.5 cm) of a huge cystic craniopharyngioma by frontotemporal approach, followed by early external fractionated radiotherapy by linear accelerator. Serial magnetic resonance imaging during a follow-up period of 5 years showed a progressive marked reduction of the tumour remnant, accompanied by a complete recovery of visual deficits and an almost complete regression of diencephalic disturbances.

CONCLUSIONS:

Subtotal removal followed by early fractionated radiotherapy can be an effective treatment for huge craniopharyngiomas. Such a multidisciplinary treatment may favour tumour control and assure a satisfactory quality of life as well.

• Authors: Mario Francesco Fraioli, Riccardo Santoni, Chiara Fraioli, Filiberto Contratti
• Journal: Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (Childs Nerv Syst) Vol. 22 Issue 2 Pg. 151-5; discussion 158-63 (Feb 2006) ISSN: 0256-7040 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 16320025 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Craniopharyngioma (therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Hypophysectomy
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods)
• Pituitary Neoplasms (therapy)
• Postoperative Period
• Radiotherapy (methods)