Traditionally, surgery has been the main treatment for craniopharyngioma. However, radiation treatment instead of surgery or along with a smaller surgery may be the best choice for some patients.

In tumors that cannot be removed completely with surgery alone, radiation therapy is usually necessary. If the tumor has a classic appearance on CT scan, a biopsy may not be necessary if treatment with radiation alone is planned.

Stereotactic radiosurgery is performed at some medical centers.

This tumor is best treated at a center with experience in treating patients with craniopharyngiomas.

In general, the prognosis for patients with craniopharyngioma is good, with an 80-90% chance of permanent cure if the tumor can be completely removed with surgery or treated with high doses of radiation. Most recurrences occur within the first 2 years after surgery.

However, the prognosis for an individual patient depends on several factors, including the ability of the tumor to be completely removed, and the neurological deficits and hormonal imbalances caused by the tumor and the treatment.

Most of the problems with hormones and vision do not improve with treatment, and sometimes the treatment may even make them worse.

A significant percentage of patients have long-term hormonal, visual, and neurological problems following the treatment of craniopharyngioma.

In patients where the tumor is not completely removed, the condition may recur.

Call your health care provider if there are any signs of increased intracranial pressure (headache, nausea, vomiting, imbalance), any visual changes, increased thirst and urination, or poor growth in a child.

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Endocrine glands

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Craniopharyngioma Symptoms

Review Date: 03/02/2010
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)