A 32 year-old man presented with progressive headaches and trouble with his vision. |
Craniopharyngioma. T1-weighted with gadolinium axial MRIs.
Note the presence of a suprasellar mass that enhances with
gadolinium and is associated with a large cystic component. Surgical
removal demonstrated a craniopharyngioma. Craniopharyngiomas arise
in the suprasellar region and are often calcified and cystic. They
are slow growing tumors that occur in children and adults, and can
become very large in size. In children, they are thought to occur as
a result of impaired embryogenesis of structures in or near the
infundibulum of the pituitary gland. In adults, they are believed to
occur as a result of metaplasia of pituitary squamous epithelium.
Similar to pituitary macroadenomas, they may present with endocrine
dysfunction or focal neurological signs due to mass effect in the
suprasellar region. |
Revised
11/28/06.
Copyrighted 2006. David C Preston