Treatment strategies for craniopharyngiomas.

Treatment strategies for craniopharyngiomas. J Neurosurg Sci. 2017 Sep 04;: Authors: Ottenhausen M, Rumalla K, LA Corte E, Alalade A, Nair P, Forbes J, Ben Nsir A, Schwartz TH Abstract Craniopharyniomas arise from the sellar region and are particularly challenging because of their close proximity to critical neurovascular structures, including cranial nerves, brainstem, internal carotid arteries, posterior cerebral arteries, hypothalamus, and the pituitary gland. The tumors are benign on histology but can cause serious symptoms by compression of surrounding vital structures. While radical surgery and gross total resection (GTR) remains the first line treatment, choosing the optimal surgical approach is critical for the minimization of complications and post-operative morbidity. The extended endoscopic endonasal approach (EEEA) offers a direct route towards the sellar and suprasellar regions and has proven to be a safe and effective for GTR, with lower rates of complications and post-operative morbidity than open transcranial approaches. However, traditional transcranial approaches remain relevant in tumors with signficant lateral extension. Radiotherapy can be considered in cases of subtotal resection (STR) or if surgery is not possible, although progressive growth of cysts with neurological deterioration has been demonstrated no infrequently. Newly developed chemotherapy for papillary craniopharygniomas might expand treatment option...
Source: Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences - Category: Neurosurgery Tags: J Neurosurg Sci Source Type: research