Craniopharyngioma involving the infrasellar region: a case report and review of the literature.

Craniopharyngiomas are most commonly located in the intradural suprasellar region. However, ectopic craniopharyngiomas can originate in the infrasellar region. The authors present the case of an 8-year-old boy diagnosed with a large cystic craniopharyngioma involving the nasal cavities and maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses, in addition to the sella turcica. The primary symptoms of this patient were nasal obstruction, unilateral decreased visual acuity and exophthalmos. He subsequently underwent combined radical resection of the tumor by means of an endonasal transsphenoidal approach followed by radiation therapy. During the surgery, the dura mater of the sellar floor was found to be intact. The neuroradiological and surgical findings suggested that this tumor originated in the extradural infrasellar region and invaded the sella turcica. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel