Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2008) 15 P208

Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.


Introduction: Craniopharyngiomas constitute 2–5% of all primary CNS neoplasms. We retrospectively analysed the case records of all patients with craniopharyngioma treated in our hospital from 1996 to 2006.

Results: One hundred and twenty-seven patients were treated during this period. 65% were male and 35% were female. 50 patients (39%) were <15 yrs of age. The maximum clustering of cases was in the 6–15 yr age group (37%).

Headache was the most common symptom (63%) followed by visual impairment (41%). The mean duration of symptoms was 12.7 months. On examination 75% of these patients had decreased visual acuity and 68% had field defects. 42% had hypothyroidism, 33% had low cortisol and 5% had central diabetes insipidus. 66% of the patients >15 yrs had features of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. 50% of the children (<15 yrs) had short stature secondary to growth hormone deficiency (height S.D. score <−2.5). 58% of patients had cystic tumours >2 cm in size. 73% of the tumours showed areas of calcification.

All except 4 patients underwent trancranial resection. In the majority of patients (82%) only subtotal excision was achieved. The biopsy showed adamantinomatous tumor in 85% of children (<15 yrs) and 75% of the adults. Following surgery 72% of these patients received conventional radiotherapy while the others received stereotactic radiotherapy.

Conclusion: The mean age, symptom complex and hormonal deficiencies in our patients was comparable with reports from other case series. Majority of our patients underwent conventional radiotherapy following surgery.

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