[Evaluation of the radicalness of the removal of craniopharyngioma of the 3d ventricle in children and the possible sources of their continued growth and recurrence].

The authors compared the evaluation of the extent of radicalism of removal of craniopharyngiomas of the third ventricle during the operation and in postmortem examination in 17 cases. They found that the transcallosal approach provides greater possibility for radical removal and correct appraisal of the volume of the removed tumor. Growth of connective-tissue fibres of the capsule of the craniopharyngioma into the walls of the third ventricle hinders total removal of the tumor. Other possible sources of recurrences may be microscopie areas of the glial capsule whose fibres grow into the brain matter together with craniopharyngioma epithelial cell complexes, as well as microcraniopharyngiomas growing independently in the depths of the hypophysis which are not related to the removed tumor.