THE ENDOCRINE OUTCOME AFTER SURGICAL REMOVAL OF CRANIOPHARYNGIOMAS

The postoperative course of children undergoing surgery for craniophar yngioma was reviewed. Typically they were below height at presentation . Ah had an attempt at radical surgical resection of the tumor. Most d eveloped diabetes insipidus in the postoperative period, which was per manent in all but 1 child. 94% required thyroid replacement therapy, a nd sex steroids were administered in 100% when they reached the age of puberty. 91% required maintenance corticosteroids. 54% required growt h hormone replacement, but some children showed continued growth despi te apparent growth hormone deficiency. Postoperative obesity develops in one half of patients, and may be improved with administration of gr owth hormone; a controlled trial is underway.