ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Craniopharyngiomas are intracranial tumors of non-glial origin derived from cellular remnants of the Rathke's pouch. Their frequency is 1-3% of intracranial tumors and 13% of suprasellar neoplasms. Histologically, it is a benign lesion, albeit clinically severe with a high index of relapse and sequelae upon the reproductive function. OBJECTIVE: To identify the clinical characteristics of patients with craniopharyngiomas before and after treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed our experience of 15 cases with craniopharyngioma seen at the Hospital Juarez de Mexico from 1995 throughout 2002. RESULTS: Prevalence was higher in males (ratio 2:1) with ages between 6-45 years old (X 17.9 +/- 6.45 years). The most common symptoms were cephalalgia (100%) and visual disorders (93%); the average levels of hormonal determination were in females: FSH 1.0 mIU/mL, LH 0.5 mIU/mL, estradiol 11.0 pg/mL, PRL 80 mg/mL. In males: FSH 1.7 mIU/mL, LH 2.6 mIU/mL, testosterone 0.6 mg/dL and PRL 29 mg/mL. All patients had hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Tumoral relapse was mostly seen in patients who underwent only surgery (n = 7, 46.6%). The ones with surgery and radiotherapy (n = 8, 53.3%) did not disclose symptoms that required another surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The main repercussion of craniopharyngioma, due to its proximity to hypothalamus and hypophysis, is on the endocrine and reproductive areas of human being.