Fourteen cases of children with craniopharyngiomas

Abstract

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics and the endocrine changes in children with craniopharyngioma, and to improve the pediatrician understanding of the disease. Methods The study subjects consisted of 14 children with craniopharyngioma admitted to the Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from Jan.2004 to Dec.2012.All the patients were followed up to analyze the clinical symptoms improvement, endocrine test results and medication, et al. Results The main clinical manifestations were headache(7/14 cases, 50.0%), growth retardation(4/14 cases, 28.6%), vomiting(4/14 cases, 28.6%), polydipsia/polyuria (3/14 cases, 21.4%) and vision diminution (3/14 cases, 21.4%). Three patients didn't undergo the sur-gery, and 3 cases with diabetes insipidus and 2 cases with growth hormone deficiency, and 1 case with central hypothyroidism by laboratory test.The rest 11 children received surgery and all patients had changes in endocrine after it.Five cases got polydipsia and polyuria, other 5 cases had electrolyte disturbances, and 2 cases had epilepsy.Nine patients were followed up, and the follow-up duration ranged from 5 months to 10 years [(3.29±3.52) years] after surgery.Seven patients got better and 2 patients got worse. Conclusions For clinical symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, changes in endocrine, the vision and visual field, the possibility of craniopharyngioma should be taken into account.Surgery is the main treatment, but it can lead to the damage of hypothalamus and pituitary gland.Changes in endocrine, electrolyte disturbances and epilepsy are the common complications.According to the level of endocrine, long-term hormone replacement therapy for some postoperative patients should be continued. Key words: Craniopharyngiomas; Hypothalamus; Pituitary gland; Endocrine