SPONTANEOUS REDUCTION OF A RECURRENT CRANIOPHARYNGIOMA IN AN 8-YEAR-OLD FEMALE-PATIENT - CASE-REPORT

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: The spontaneous rupture of a craniopharyngio ma is an extremely rare condition confined to adults. This is the firs t report of a patient younger than 10 years who experienced spontaneou s reduction (possibly rupture) of a craniopharyngioma. CLINICAL PRESEN TATION: An 8-year-old female patient with a recurrence of a craniophar yngioma experienced fever, headache, and visual disturbance that laste d a few days. Concurrent with the improvement of these symptoms, marke d reduction in the size of the tumor was revealed using magnetic reson ance imaging, suggesting the occurrence of a rupture. INTERVENTION: Su bsequent magnetic resonance imaging of the hypothalamic-pituitary regi on was performed while the patient received growth hormone therapy. CO NCLUSION: There was no increase in the size of the tumor 1 year after the reduction occurred. Prompt evaluation of the hypothalamic-pituitar y region using magnetic resonance imaging is warranted to rule out the possibility of spontaneous reduction (including rupture) of the tumor in a ii situation in which the patient with a craniopharyngioma shows meningeal signs or a rapid change of neurological symptoms (such as h eadache, fever, or visual disturbance).