Endocrine Abstracts

Craniopharyngioma is a slow growing benign epithelial tumor, growing from the pituitary stalk or pituitary gland in the sellar and/or parasellar region. Despite its benignity, the quality of life of patients is most often altered, due to the endocrine, visual and neuro-intellectual sequelae linked to the tumor itself and/or its treatment, as well as a high rate of recurrence. local. Early diagnosis remains the determining factor in prognosis. The objective of this study is to report the experience of the Endocrinology service of EPH Bologhine through the analysis of 31 records of patients hospitalized for craniopharyngioma.

Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study including 31 patients (15 women and 16 men) including 13 children and 18 adults, average age 23 years.

Results: Neurological manifestations are the predominant mode of disclosure 54.8% (17/31) with a picture of intracranial hypertension (42%). On the endocrine level, the somatotropic deficit is found in 25% of patients, the same portion is noted for the gonadotropic deficit. The corticotropic and thyrotropic deficit each represent 41.9% of cases. Stress delay was found in 6.7% of patients and diabetes insipidus 41.9%. Visual disturbances are found in 74.2% (23/31) of patients with blindness in 16.1% of cases. On the radiological level, the suprasellar localization is found in 32% of the cases, calcifications are found in 13% of the cases. The size of the lesion ranged from 18 mm to 63 mm.

Discussion: Craniopharyngioma is a benign, curable tumor, but due to its intimate relationship with critical structures of the central brain such as the optic structures, the pituitary gland, the hypothalamus, intracranial vascularization, the brainstem and the temporal lobes, its grip in charge introduces the risk of long-term morbidity of treatment. Today, the most common therapeutic approach is conservative subtotal resection followed by radiotherapy, and the goal is to limit long-term toxicity. Many recent advances in the treatment of craniopharyngioma are attributable to improvements in surgical techniques and radiotherapy technologies.

Conclusion: The management of craniopharyngioma requires multidisciplinary cooperation. Surgery remains the main treatment.. Today, the most common therapeutic approach is conservative subtotal resection followed by radiotherapy, and the goal is to limit long-term toxicity. Many recent advances in the treatment of craniopharyngioma are attributable to improvements in surgical techniques and radiotherapy technologies.