title: Aggressive surgical management of craniopharyngiomas in children.
abstract: The cases of 50 patients with craniopharyngioma operated on at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto between January, 1975, and December, 1989, are reviewed. All patients were under 18 years of age (mean 9.39 years). Headaches, endocrine deficiencies, and visual deficits were the most common symptoms on admission. Forty-five patients underwent what was considered by the surgeon to be total excision of their tumor, and five had subtotal excision. Tumors recurred in 17 patients (mean time of recurrence 32.6 months after surgery). One patient died in the postoperative period and three have been lost to follow-up study. Of the remaining 46 patients, 28 are leading a normal or nearly normal life, although all are receiving endocrine replacement and some have required help to overcome mild deficits in memory or visual acuity. Twelve patients are able to function reasonably well and attend school despite being hampered by intellectual or visual deficits or problems with weight control; four have a significant handicap, and two have died.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Silva
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Humphreys
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Blaser
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000172:deficiency; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones