Surgical treatment of childhood craniopharyngioma: clinical analysis of 31 cases / 中国当代儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the diagnosis, surgical treatment and outcome of craniopharyngioma in 31 children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 31 children (aged 7-14 years) with craniopharyngioma were studied retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Headache, visual disorder and growth retardation were main manifestations in the 31 children. The 31 children were definitely diagnosed with craniopharyngioma by CT and MRI. In the 31 cases, 19 (61.3%) underwent total tumor removal, 5 (16.1%) subtotal removal, and 7 (22.6%) partial removal. After tumor removal, transient diabetes insipidus occurred in 19 cases (61.3%) and long-term diabetes insipidus in 3 cases. Six cases (19.4%) presented hypothalamic injuries after surgery. No patient died after surgery. Five patients (16.1%) had recurrent tumor in a mean follow-up of 32.5 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The diagnosis of childhood craniopharyngioma may be based on clinical manifestations and CT/MRI examinations. Craniotomy is a preferred surgical treatment. Proper extent of tumor resection should be determined in order to reduce the tumor recurrence and the incidence of postoperative complications.</p>