Extracranial nasopharyngeal craniopharyngioma: case report.
OBJECTIVE
Craniopharyngiomas (CPs) are benign tumors that almost always occur in a suprasellar location, making complete resection difficult and often necessitating radiotherapy. A case of CP presenting in an unusual location in an 8-year-old boy highlights the goals of CP treatment.


METHODS
An 8-year-old boy sought treatment for symptoms of nasal obstruction and snoring. He also had a history of mild developmental delay, and his father had a thyroglossal duct cyst resected in his own youth. After tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy failed to improve the patient's symptoms, nasal endoscopy and biopsy revealed an intranasal CP. After this treatment, he experienced chronic thin brown nasal discharge. Magnetic resonance imaging further revealed tumor invading the sphenoid body and the clivus and that the tumor had no intracranial extension.


METHODS
The child underwent surgical resection via a Le Fort I osteotomy approach. Complete resection was accomplished based on intraoperative frozen section pathological examination and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging results.


CONCLUSIONS
CP with no intracranial extension is a very rare but benign tumor. We recommend vigorous attempts to resect such tumors completely to minimize the chance of recurrence and the possible need for radiotherapy. Although radiotherapy controls CP growth quite well, it has its own risks that should be avoided if possible. Cranial base techniques may facilitate total resection.
Shuman
Andrew G
AG
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0338, USA.
Heth
Jason A
JA
Marentette
Lawrence J
LJ
Blaivas
Mila
M
Muraszko
Karin M
KM
D002648:Child; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome