[Craniopharyngiomas in children and adolescents]

In sixtheen children and adolescents primary operation of craniopharyngioma over the period from January 1987 to February 1992 was carried out. The age of these patients ranged from nine months to eighteen years. There were nine females and seven males. Microsurgical operation was performed in fifteen cases, and stereotaxic biopsy with intracystic instillation of Y90 in one patient. Within the first month after the operation three patients died (18.8%). The total mortality was 31.2%. In nine out of thirteen patients tumour recurrence occured (69%). No tumour recurrence was noted in four patients: one after radical surgery, two after subtotal resection of craniopharyngioma, and a boy with stereotaxic biopsy and instillation of Y90. Second operation for tumour recurrence was carried out in three patients. Two children were lost from evidence, and four were subjected to radiotherapy. The authors analyse operation proceedings and results of treatment. They work out criteria for the optimal treatment, pointing out the neuroradiological, anatomosurgical and histopathological characteristics of these tumours.