Endocrine Abstracts

Craniopharyngioma is a rare embryonic malformation of the Sellar/parasellar region. This harbors BRAF-V600E mutations. There are 2 Subtypes-Adamantinomatous and Papillary. Point prevalence of CP is around 2/100,000 with no variance by gender or race. CP has bimodal age distribution with peak incidence in the ages of 5-14 and 65-74 years. CP presents with following clinical features: Symptoms due to increased intracranial pressure-Nausea, headaches, visual impairments, hormone deficiencies, growth retardation, hypothalamic obesity. Hypopituitarism is due to tumour and/or treatment-related lesions to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. This affects the secretion of Growth hormone (GH, 75%), Gonadotropins (LH/FSH, 40%), Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH, 25%), Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH, 25%). Diagnosis is made via neuroimaging. A detailed neuroophthalmological examination is required once diagnosis is made. An experienced multidisciplinary team (neurosurgery, radiation oncology, neuro-oncology, endocrinology, ophthalmology, neuroradiology, and neuropathology) is essential for the optimal treatment of both paediatric and adult patients with craniopharyngiomas. Aggressive surgery with an attempt to achieve complete resection at diagnosis versus a more conservative surgical approach that used radiation therapy (RT) to treat residual disease is suggested. We have undertaken a retrospective review of Craniopharyngioma patients over the 10 years. Clinical, radiological, biochemical features were analysed. Data from 20 patients with craniopharyngioma were collected. Average age of patients was 61.2 years, female and male accounted for 70% and 30 % respectively. Many patients (75%) required Hydrocortisone while 40% and 15% required levothyroxine and desmopressin respectively post-surgery. 12 had histopathological diagnosis of craniopharyngioma. Histologically 3 had adenomatous, 2 had papillary and 6 had grade 1 craniopharyngioma with only 1 patient had recurrence during follow up.