Craniopharyngiomas: experience and results.

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Oncology

Background:

• Craniopharyngiomas pose significant neurosurgical challenges due to their proximity to critical structures.
• Balancing aggressive resection with long-term recurrence risks is a key management dilemma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate clinical outcomes, resection extent, recurrence rates, and disease-free survival in craniopharyngioma patients.
• To analyze the impact of tumor location on surgical approach and outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 30 craniopharyngioma cases undergoing surgical resection between 2007-2019.
• Classification of tumors by location and analysis of surgical approaches (transcranial, transsphenoidal, endoscopic).
• Assessment of ophthalmological, imaging, endocrinological data, and surgical complications.

Main Results:

• Tumor locations included intrasellar (12.5%), prechiasmatic (12.5%), retrochiasmatic (43.75%), and intraventricular (31.25%).
• Gross-total resection was achieved in 43.7% and near-total resection (>90%) in 25% of patients.
• The mean follow-up was 4.7 years, with a 48% recurrence rate and an average of 42.7 disease-free months.

Conclusions:

• Total tumor resection represents the optimal treatment strategy for craniopharyngioma.
• Effective management necessitates a multidisciplinary team approach due to the high morbidity and mortality associated with these tumors.