Endoscopic treatment of cystic craniopharyngiomas in elderly patients. Report of three cases with a review

Abstract

Craniopharyngiomas are rare tumors with peak incidence between 5–14 and between 65–74 years of age. Treatment of choice is surgical resection, sometimes associated with radiation therapy. Complete tumor resection may be challenging. Radical surgery is particularly risky in older patients. Authors evaluate three cases of large cystic craniopharyngioma in patients in their 7th and 8th decade of life operated with the use of endoscopic technique. The postoperative follow-up period in which out-patient controls with imaging examinations were performed was up to 6 years. Symptoms of intracranial hypertension resolved in all patients in the immediate postoperative period. Visual acuity improved in two patients. No cases of aseptic meningitis have been reported. One patient underwent subsequent radio-therapy. The well-being of the operated patients continued. Endoscopic transventricular approach to cystic craniopharyngiomas may be a safe and effective approach in older patients, being an alternative to microsurgical procedures.