RESUMEN
Objective To analyze the correlation between the position and the removal extent of the tumor and the postoperative sodium metabolic disturbance in patients with craniopharyngiomas. Methods Retrospective analysis of the postoperative sodium metabolic disturbance in craniopharyngioma patients admitted from Feb.2006 to Oct. 2010 was performed. Results In the 30 casese,10 cases occurred hypernatremia,9 with hyponatremia and, 2 with fluctuating hyponatremia and hypematremia. One cases died in the population. No sodium metabolic disturbance occurred in patients with craniopharyngiomas located in the interasellar region, whereas 8 occurred in the inter and suprasellar region(61.5% ,8/13) , and 3 occurred post and beside assellar region(60.0% ,3/5) , 10 occurred in the third and lateral cerebral ventricle (100.0%, 10/10). Sodium metabolic disturbance occurred in 15 cases(62. 5% ) among 24 cases underwent total resection,in all 4 cases underwent sub-total resection (100.0% ) ,and all 2 cases underwent paritical resection ( 100. 0% ). The degree of resection was not correlated with Sodium metabolic disturbance(x2 = 3.21 ,P>0.05). Conclusion Sodium metabolic disturbance after craniopharyngioma surgery may be correlated with the position of tumor, but not correlated with the removal extent.