Magnetic resonance imaging of craniopharyngioma

Craniopharyngiomas are common tumors located in the suprasellar region. Contrast enhancement, cyst formation, and calcification are the three characteristic features of craniopharyngiomas on computed tomographic scan. More than 90% of suprasellar craniopharyngiomas exhibit at least two of these three features, thus providing easy radiologic detection. We treated a 41-year-old man in whom a large suprasellar craniopharyngioma producing severe visual loss was not detected by computed tomography but was easily identified with magnetic resonance imaging. Thus, despite high-resolution computed tomographic scan, large suprasellar craniopharyngiomas can be missed. Magnetic resonance imaging may be superior to computed tomography in detecting these tumors.