Sump drainage: a palliative manoeuvre for the treatment of craniopharyngioma.

A sump system was used as a palliative manoeuvre in the treatment of four cases of cystic craniopharyngioma. Percutaneous needling of the subcutaneous reservoir enabled the fluid contents of the tumour to be evacuated with considerable therapeutic effect. Radiotherapy was combined with this manoeuvre in two cases. The three successfully treated patients have been followed up for 3 1/2, five, and 5 1/2 years. The manoeuvre is not original. It is simple, safe, effective, even in the long term, and worthy of consideration in the treatment of a condition of acknowledged uncertain natural history and surgical difficulty.