ENDOSCOPIC MANAGEMENT OF CRANIOPHARYNGIOMAS - A REVIEW OF 3 CASES

The authors describe the endoscopic management of cystic craniopharyng iomas in 3 cases. This method has been attempted in cystic craniophary ngiomas using a rigid endoscope. The instrument has been described ear lier (7-9). All these operations were done under general anaesthesia. Criteria for endoscopic extirpation and removal included type D, E, F classification according to Yasargil (17). All 3 cases fitted in the F category. There were one female and two male patients. In the female patient an aspiration of cyst contents was performed as a first attemp t to relieve her hydrocephalus. Two months later recurrent symptomolog y necessitated a larger intervention. All cysts were opened using the laser, drained by a Fogarthy balloon-catheter, and the capsule removed by forceps. This technique is safe and provides a reasonable alternat ive to open microsurgery, radioactive isotope instillation, or radioth erapy. In our series we achieved total removal in one case after the s econd intervention and partial removal in two cases. There was no mort ality directly associated with this procedure and the female patient d eveloped severe electrolyte disturbances after macroscopic total remov al. Our results suggest that endoscopic of management of cystic cranio pharyngiomas is a safe and effective procedure which could be consider ed as the initial management for cystic craniopharyngiomas of the intr aventricular type.