Summary
Three cases of giant cystic craniopharyngiomas with large areas of extension beyond the suprasellar area are presented. The magnetic resonance (MR) appearance in one case is described. These giant tumors had large, multilobulated cysts that comprised the bulk of the tumors. In one case, there was an unusual extension of the large tumor cyst into the lateral ventricle. In two cases, the tumors extended to the level of the foramen magnum. On CT, the cyst contents of these two tumors were hyperdense and became hypodense postoperatively. All three tumors harbored calcifications in the form of clumps in the suprasellar region and rim calcifications around the cysts. None of the tumors exhibited contrast enhancement. A literature review of the radiographic features of craniopharyngiomas is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fitz CR, Wortzman G, Harwood-Nash DC, Holgate RC, Barry JF, Boldt DW (1978) Computed tomography in craniopharyngiomas. Radiology 127: 687–691
Naidich TP, Pinto RS, Kushner MJ, Lin JP, Kricheff H, Leeds NE, Chase NC (1976) Evaluation of sellar and parasellar masses by computed tomography. Radiology 120: 91–99
Cabezudo JM, Vaquero J, Garcia-de-Sola R, Leunda G, Nombela L, Bravo G (1981) Computed tomography with craniopharyngiomas: a review. Surg Neurol 15: 422–427
Schott LH, Naidich TP, Gan J (1983) Common pediatric brain tumors: typical computed tomographic appearances. J Comput Assist Tomogr 7: 3–15
Petito CK, DeGirolami U, Earle KM (1976) Craniopharyngiomas: a clinical and pathological review. Cancer 37: 1944–1952
Banna M (1976) Craniopharyngioma: based on 160 cases. Br J Radiol 49: 206–223
Fitz CR, Rao KCVG (1983) Primary tumors in children. In: Lee SH, Rao KCVG (eds) Cranial computed tomography. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 295–343
McLone DG, Raimondi AJ, Naidich TP (1982) Craniopharyngiomas. Childs Brain 9: 188–200
Crane TB, Yee RD, Hepler RS, Hallinan JM (1982) Clinical manifestations and radiologic findings in craniopharyngiomas in adults. Am J Ophthalmol 94: 220–228
James HE, Edwards MSB (1985) Systemic staging of supratentorial extra-axial brain tumors in children. Cancer 56: 1800–1803
Kitano I, Yoneda K, Yamakawa Y, Fukui M, Kinoshita K (1981) Huge cystic craniopharyngioma with unusual extensions. Neuroradiology 22: 39–42
Al-Mefty O, Hassounah M, Weaver P, Sakati N, Jinkins JR, Fox JL (1985) Microsurgery for giant craniopharyngiomas in children. Neurosurgery 17: 585–595
Parent AD, Fleischer AS, Marc JA, Ball TI (1977) Giant craniopharyngioma evaluated by computerized axial tomography. J Pediatr Surg 12: 251–253
Ueyama Y, Kuratsuji T, Lee JY, Yamazaki T, Hata J, Tamaoki N (1985) Congenital giant craniopharyngioma. Acta Pathol Jpn 35: 1273–1277
Lipper MH, Kishore PRS, Ward JD (1981) Craniopharyngioma: unusual computed tomographic presentation. Neurosurgery 9: 76–78
Nagasawa S, Hand H, Yamashita J, Kinuta Y (1983) Dense cystic craniopharyngioma with unusual extensions. Surg Neurol 19: 299–301
Parkinson D, West M (1979) Giant cystic craniopharyngioma: case report. Can J Neurol Sci 6: 363–365
Mori K, Handa H, Murata T, Ishikawa M, Takeuchi J, Osaka K (1980) Craniopharyngiomas with unusual topography associated with vascular pathology. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 53: 53–68
Matthews FD (1983) Intraventricular craniopharyngioma. AJNR 4: 984–985
Grover WD, Rorke LB (1968) Invasive craniopharyngioma. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 31: 580–582
Morrison G, Sobel DF, Kelley WM, Norman D (1984) Intraventricular mass lesions. Radiology 153: 435–442
Lanzieri CF, Sacher M, Som PM (1985) CT changes in the septum pellucidum associated with intraventricular craniopharyngiomas. J Comput Assist Tomogr 9: 507–510
Ravidran M, Radhakrishnan VV, Rao VRK (1980) Communicating cystic craniopharyngioma. Surg Neurol 14: 230–232
Braun IF, Pinto RS, Epstein F (1982) Dense cystic craniopharyngiomas. AJNR 3: 139–141
Numaguchi Y, Kishikawa T, Ikeda J, Fukui M, Kitamura K, Tsukamoto Y, Hasuo K, Matsuura K (1981) Neuroradiological manifestations of suprasellar pituitary adenomas, meningiomas and craniopharyngiomas. Neuroradiology 21: 67–74
New PFJ, Aronow S (1976) Attenuation measurements of whole blood and blood fractions in computed tomography. Radiology 121: 635–640
Salcman M (1979) Correlation of absorption coefficients with intracranial fluid protein concentration and specific gravities. Neurosurgery 5: 16–20
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Young, S.C., Zimmerman, R.A., Nowell, M.A. et al. Giant cystic craniopharyngiomas. Neuroradiology 29, 468–473 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00341745
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00341745