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Skull Base 2001; 11(2): 121-128
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-14432
CASE REPORTS

Copyright © 2001 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

Infrasellar Craniopharyngiomas: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Harel Deutsch1 , Karl Kothbauer1 , Mark Persky2 , Fred J. Epstein1 , George I. Jallo1
  • 1Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York
  • 2Department of Otolaryngology, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Although craniopharyngiomas account for a large percentage of pediatric intracranial tumors, there is a bimodal age distribution. Most of these neoplasms are suprasellar or sellar in location. In this report we describe an unusual case of an infrasellar craniopharyngioma in a child. Only four previous cases of infrasellar craniopharyngiomas with no sellar involvement have been described. Infrasellar craniopharyngiomas are part of the continuum representing intracranial craniopharyngiomas and ameloblastomas of the jaw. A transnasal endoscopic biopsy was performed with a preliminary diagnosis of craniopharyngioma. The patient then underwent a radical resection of the infrasellar tumor via a subfrontal transbasal approach. This case illustrates a rare and unusual location for a craniopharyngioma. Craniopharyngiomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infrasellar neoplasms. Infrasellar craniopharyngiomas compromise part of the spectrum of tumors originating from enamel-forming neural crest cells.

KEYWORD

Ameloblastoma - craniopharyngioma - infrasellar region - nasopharynx - Rathke's pouch

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