Monstrous craniopharyngioma. Case presentations and term proposal.
BACKGROUND
Craniopharyngiomas (CF) are benign tumors, which can be cured by total resection; however, this is not always possible to achieve, thus leading to tumor recurrence. When these tumors achieve disproportionate growth, the treatment is even more difficult, fortunately grotesque CF are not frequent, making experience and data collection more arduous to obtain.


METHODS
Four patients are presented here to illustrate the need for the use of a new term, "monstrous craniopharyngioma," which is proposed with the aim of making the evaluation of the different kinds of treatment available more accurate.


CONCLUSIONS
Craniopharyngiomas that have grown into more than one cranial fossa with mixed solid and cystic components pose a special challenge for resection, and therefore a systematic classification and approach are required in order to obtain the best surgical results.
Trejos
Humberto
H
National Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 225-6151, Santa Ana 2000, Costa Rica. htrejos@hospitalcima.com
Caceres
Adrian
A
Segura
Juan L
JL
D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000601:surgery*; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007016:Hypophysectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome