Teratomas in the suprasellar region: report of five cases

Five cases of suprasellar teratoma are presented. The characteristic clinical symptoms consist of diabetes insipidus, visual distrubance, hypopituitarism, and occasionally increased intracranial pressure accompanied by mild erosion of the sella turcica and separation of cranial sutures. A suprasellar mass lesion was demonstrated in all four cases examined by carotid angiography, and fine vascularization was found in three. Removal of the tumor is the treatment of choice, but if carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, or germinoma tissues are contained in the tumor, irradiation therapy should follow surgical treatment.