title: Pediatric Suprasellar Tumors.
abstract: The various childhood suprasellar tumors, while pathologically distinct, present similar clinical and surgical challenges as a result of their common anatomic location. These lesions are in close proximity to or may invade the optic nerve and chiasm, pituitary gland and infundibulum, hypothalamus, and third ventricle, leading to presenting features including visual field loss, impairment in visual acuity, endocrine dysfunction, and hydrocephalus. Though many suprasellar lesions are relatively benign in pathology, treatment may be complicated by high surgical morbidity resulting from damage to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Here we review the most frequent pediatric lesions occurring in the suprasellar region: craniopharyngioma, chiasmatic glioma, germ cell tumor, Rathke cleft and arachnoid cysts, pituitary adenoma, and histiocytosis. This review outlines both common presenting features and differentiating aspects of these lesions. It also includes classic radiographic presentations and treatment considerations for each lesion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Heather J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: McCrea
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Settler
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurological Surgery, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Theodore H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA jpgreenf@med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Jeffrey P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Greenfield
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D020863:Central Nervous System Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans
keywords: craniopharyngioma; neurosurgery; pediatric; suprasellar tumors