Suprasellar papillary squamous epithelioma ("papillary craniopharyngioma")

Abstract

Six cases of a distinctive suprasellar papillary neoplasm are presented and the features of this lesion are contrasted with those of the classical adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma. Characteristics distinguishing the former from the latter include a predominate, and perhaps exclusive, occurrence in adulthood; frequent radiologic solidity and absence of calcification; macroscopic papillary nature; and, microscopically, a well-differentiated papillary squamous epithelium without calcification, palisaded cells, or keratoid nodules. We suggest that this papillary lesion is a clinicopathologic entity distinct from the classical adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma.