COMPLICATIONS IN PEDIATRIC CRANIOPHARYNGIOMA TREATMENT

Forty-eight consecutive children treated for craniopharyngioma at the Juan P. Garrahan National Paediatric Hospital (Buenos Aires, Argentina ) from 1988 to 1994 are described. Complications of patients undergoin g total resection alone and those undergoing subtotal or partial resec tion plus radiotherapy were compared. Survival time and quality of lif e proved more satisfactory in the former group, as there were no recur rences. In contrast, among the latter patients, 53% suffered relapses. Endocrinological complications were similar in the two groups. Postsu rgical subdural haematomas were quite frequent and eight patients requ ired treatment for intracranial hypertension. Vascular complications, though less common, led to high morbidity and mortality. There was a c onsiderable incidence of shunt malfunction (80%), arguing against plac ement of a preoperative shunt, which tended besides to foster postsurg ical subdural haematomas.