Imaging findings of craniopharyngioma in relation to its surgical management: a retrospective analysis]

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of craniopharygioma and explore the correlation between the pathological findings and clinical features of the disease. METHODS: The CT and MRI findings of 123 pathologically confirmed craniopharygioma cases were reviewed retrospectively in conjunction with the pathological findings and surgical data. RESULTS: This patient cohort consisted of 70 male and 53 female patients with their age ranging from 1 to 72 years (mean 23.82 years). Of the 123 craniopharyngioma patients, 59 were found to have adamantinous craniopharyngiomas, 41 had papillary squamous craniopharyngiomas, and 23 had mixed tumors. Solid tumor was found in 18 cases, cystic tumor in 38 cases, and calcification in 78 cases; in 23 cases, the posterior of the tumor did not exhibit clear boundary from the wall of the three cerebral ventricles, and in 11 cases CT and MRI displayed hypophysial stalk, which was found intraoperatively in 53 cases. CONCLUSIONS: MRI allows clear vision of the range of craniopharyngioma involvement and the anatomical structures surrounding the tumor. CT, on the other hand, shows better performance in displaying the calcification foci. Accurate identification of the site, dimension, calcification patterns and relation between the hypophysial stalk and hypothalamus by the imaging modalities significantly benefits the optimization of the surgical plan for the tumor.