Stereotactic management of craniopharyngiomas

Abstract

The authors present a series of 47 patients with craniopharyngiomas treated by stereotaxy in the past 15 years. There was no mortality nor immediate postoperative morbidity in the treatment of the cystic portion of the neoplasm. Intracavitary colloidal yttrium (90Y) was extremely effective in obtaining long-lasting disappearance of craniopharyngioma cysts. In children, yttrium worsened panhypopituitarism, while it was well tolerated by teenagers and adults. Craniopharyngiomas are often mixed (solid-cystic) and the majority of cases have a predominant cystic portion, where stereotaxy is a valid alternative to open surgery, which presents a high morbidity and mortality.