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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
09:53
Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery
Published on: July 5, 2021
Recurrent infrasellar clival craniopharyngioma
B T Ragel1, F S Bishop, W T Couldwell
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Acta Neurochirurgica
|May 30, 2007
Summary
This case study details a recurrent adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma presenting as a clival mass 12 years after initial treatment. Surgical resection via an endoscope-assisted endonasal transsphenoidal approach achieved gross total removal.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery
Background:
- Craniopharyngiomas are rare tumors typically arising in the suprasellar region.
- Recurrence or late presentation can occur, necessitating advanced surgical techniques.
Observation:
- A 44-year-old man presented with dysequilibrium 12 years post-craniopharyngioma resection and radiation.
- MRI revealed an infrasellar clival mass with features concerning for chordoma or primary bone tumor.
Findings:
- The clival mass was pathologically confirmed as an adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma.
- Gross total resection was achieved using an endoscope-assisted endonasal transsphenoidal approach.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for craniopharyngiomas to recur in unusual locations, such as the clivus.
- Endoscopic endonasal techniques offer a minimally invasive option for resecting complex skull base tumors.
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