OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: The spontaneous rupture of a craniopharyngioma is an extremely rare condition confined to adults. This is the first report of a patient younger than 10 years who experienced spontaneous reduction (possibly rupture) of a craniopharyngioma. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: An 8-year-old female patient with a recurrence of a craniopharyngioma experienced fever, headache, and visual disturbance that lasted a few days. Concurrent with the improvement of these symptoms, marked reduction in the size of the tumor was revealed using magnetic resonance imaging, suggesting the occurrence of a rupture. INTERVENTION: Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging of the hypothalamic-pituitary region was performed while the patient received growth hormone therapy. CONCLUSION: There was no increase in the size of the tumor 1 year after the reduction occurred. Prompt evaluation of the hypothalamic-pituitary region using magnetic resonance imaging is warranted to rule out the possibility of spontaneous reduction (including rupture) of the tumor in a situation in which the patient with a craniopharyngioma shows meningeal signs or a rapid change of neurological symptoms (such as headache, fever, or visual disturbance).
OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: The spontaneous rupture of a craniopharyngioma is an extremely rare condition confined to adults. This is the first report of a patient younger than 10 years who experienced spontaneous reduction (possibly rupture) of a craniopharyngioma. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: An 8-year-old female patient with a recurrence of a craniopharyngioma experienced fever, headache, and visual disturbance that lasted a few days. Concurrent with the improvement of these symptoms, marked reduction in the size of the tumor was revealed using magnetic resonance imaging, suggesting the occurrence of a rupture. INTERVENTION: Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging of the hypothalamic-pituitary region was performed while the patient received growth hormone therapy. CONCLUSION: There was no increase in the size of the tumor 1 year after the reduction occurred. Prompt evaluation of the hypothalamic-pituitary region using magnetic resonance imaging is warranted to rule out the possibility of spontaneous reduction (including rupture) of the tumor in a situation in which the patient with a craniopharyngioma shows meningeal signs or a rapid change of neurological symptoms (such as headache, fever, or visual disturbance).
Authors: Aaron J Clark; Tene A Cage; Derick Aranda; Andrew T Parsa; Peter P Sun; Kurtis I Auguste; Nalin Gupta Journal: Childs Nerv Syst Date: 2012-10-23 Impact factor: 1.475
Authors: Michael E Sughrue; Isaac Yang; Ari J Kane; Shanna Fang; Aaron J Clark; Derrick Aranda; Igor J Barani; Andrew T Parsa Journal: J Neurooncol Date: 2010-06-10 Impact factor: 4.130
Authors: Igor da Fonseca Rangel; Ricardo C Oliveira; Pablo V B Dos Santos; Renan S Rodrigues; Carlos R de Lima; Marcus A Acioly Journal: Asian J Neurosurg Date: 2022-08-24