Intraventricular recurrence of a craniopharyngioma: case report

Craniopharyngiomas frequently recur locally or less commonly along the path of prior resection. Ectopic recurrence is rare, although cases are reported along the neuraxis spanning from the subgaleal space down to the S1 nerve root. This case reports on a girl with a history of craniopharyngioma first resected at 23 months of age with two local suprasellar recurrences managed with repeat craniotomy and external beam radiation therapy. At age 14 she complained of worsening headaches and brain MRI demonstrated an enhancing 1.2-cm cystic lesion in the posterior body of the left lateral ventricle. Pathology following endoscopic resection of the lesion was consistent with an adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma. This case report serves to describe the first reported recurrence of a craniopharyngioma in the lateral ventricle and emphasizes the need for a high index of suspicion along with long-term follow-up of patients with a history of craniopharyngioma.