title: Giant cystic craniopharyngiomas.
abstract: Three cases of giant cystic craniopharyngiomas with large areas of extension beyond the suprasellar area are presented. The magnetic resonance (MR) appearance in one case is described. These giant tumors had large, multilobulated cysts that comprised the bulk of the tumors. In one case, there was an unusual extension of the large tumor cyst into the lateral ventricle. In two cases, the tumors extended to the level of the foramen magnum. On CT, the cyst contents of these two tumors were hyperdense and became hypodense postoperatively. All three tumors harbored calcifications in the form of clumps in the suprasellar region and rim calcifications around the cysts. None of the tumors exhibited contrast enhancement. A literature review of the radiographic features of craniopharyngiomas is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Radiology, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nowell
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Bilaniuk
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Hackney
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.forename: H I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Goldberg
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002551:Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed