Case-based review: Craniopharyngioma treated with intracystic peginterferon

Craniopharyngiomas are benign tumors with a challenging management due to the excessive morbidity of the classical therapeutic approaches. This has led to the current trend of a multimodal approach with more conservative surgical options.

We present the case of a 6-year old patient diagnosed with a giant multicystic and rapidly recurrent craniopharyngioma, showing the current trends towards a multimodal therapeutic approach with less aggressive surgical options. We emphasize the use of two different intracystic cycles of a new formulation of pegylated 2a interferon. We make a review of the available literature focusing on historical and current treatment options.

Craniopharyngiomas remain a challenge due to the morbidity caused by both the disease and its treatment. The current trend towards a more conservative approach has many alternative treatment options, with intracystic pegyladed 2a interferon being a safe and effective choice, even in consecutive administrations.