Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery for Purely Intrathird Ventricle Craniopharyngioma.
BACKGROUND
Extended endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (EETS) is a safe and effective treatment for many suprasellar craniopharyngiomas, including those with third-ventricle involvement. Craniopharyngioma entirely within the third ventricle (purely intraventricular type), however, is generally regarded unsuitable for treatment with EETS.


METHODS
Three patients underwent total removal of a purely intraventricular craniopharyngioma with inferior extension via EETS by direct incision of the bulging, stretched ventricular floor and fine dissection from the ventricular wall. In 2 patients with an anteriorly displaced chiasm, the space between the chiasm and pituitary stalk created a wide corridor to the ventricle, whereas in the third case, in which the infrachiasmal space was somewhat narrowed, partial sacrifice of the pituitary gland was necessary to obtain sufficient space. Despite preservation of the stalk in 2 patients, hypopituitarism and diabetes insipidus developed after surgery. There was no other complication including obesity.


CONCLUSIONS
Selected patients with purely intraventricular craniopharyngioma can be treated effectively and safely with EETS. Those with inferior extension in the interpeduncular fossa and anterior displacement of the chiasm may be suitable candidates.
Department of Hypothalamic and Pituitary Surgery, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; Okinaka Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: nishioka@tokyo-med.ac.jp.
Hiroshi
H
Nishioka
Department of Hypothalamic and Pituitary Surgery, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Noriaki
N
Fukuhara
Department of Hypothalamic and Pituitary Surgery, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Mitsuo
M
Yamaguchi-Okada
Department of Hypothalamic and Pituitary Surgery, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; Okinaka Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Tokyo, Japan.
Shozo
S
Yamada
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002551:Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000601:surgery; D020542:Third Ventricle / Q000601:surgery*
Craniopharyngioma; Endoscopic surgery; Extended transsphenoidal approach; Third ventricle