Cardiac risk after craniopharyngioma therapy.
Although long-term survival after craniopharyngioma treatment is excellent in childhood and early adulthood, sudden deaths in two craniopharyngioma survivors with cardiac findings suggest a need to determine whether treated patients exhibit potential substrates for sudden cardiac death. We present a retrospective review of two index patients with cardiac mortality. This motivated a prospective cardiac screening of 12 survivors that identified nearly a third with significant QTc prolongation. QTc-prolonging medication and stimulants should be used with caution in this population, and routine electrocardiogram screening may identify those at highest risk.
Mong
Sandy
S
Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. sandy_mong@hms.harvard.edu
Pomeroy
Scott L
SL
Cecchin
Frank
F
Juraszek
Amy
A
Alexander
Mark E
ME
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies