Operative outcomes and adjuvant treatment of purely third ventricle craniopharyngioma after a transcallosal approach

We reviewed four surgical cases of purely third ventricle craniopharyngioma, focusing on surgical outcomes and adjuvant treatments. From 2002 to 2008, we performed surgical treatments, via a transcallosal transforaminal approach, on four patients. All were males, with a median age of 42 (36-45) years. Most patients complained of headaches, while two (50%) patients presented with visual disturbances, and one (25%) presented with an endocrinological disturbance. Patients' follow-up periods ranged from 1.6 to 8.6 years. We totally removed the tumor in each of the four patients. The tumors originated in the infundibulum of the third ventricular floor. The pituitary stalk was anatomically preserved. The histopathological findings showed the adamantinomatous type of craniopharyngioma in all patients. Postoperatively, two patients who had experienced visual disturbances showed improvement, and there was no aggravation. Two patients had intact pituitary functioning, while two needed complete hormone replacement. The patients experienced no surgery-related complications. Two patients experienced recurrences 4.5 and 1.6 years later. One patient received gamma knife surgery for the recurred lesion, which controlled the lesion well. Purely third ventricle craniopharyngioma showed good visual and endocrinological outcomes after surgery. Gamma knife surgery could be of help in the event of a recurred lesion.