[Experience with radical surgery for craniopharyngiomas]

Operations were conducted on 83 patients for total (49) or subtotal (34) removal of craniopharyngioma. A dependence of the possibilities of effective radical operations for these tumors on the variant of their localization in the infundibulo-hypophyseal region was revealed. The use of microsurgical techniques made the operation more radical and improved its results. The features of the surgical techniques in endosuprasellar, suprasellar extraventricular and intraventricular craniopharyngiomas are described. After radical operation 26 patients died. The outcomes of radical operations were least favourable in intraventricular craniopharyngiomas. The provision of conditions excluding damage to medio-basal brain areas which are of greatest functional importance is or primary significance in radical operations.