The present and future management of childhood craniopharyngioma

Childhood craniopharyngiomas are rare tumours that present formidable diffi culties in their treatment if cure is to be achieved without producing seve re hypothalamic damage. Experience with our own cases suggests that the mor bidity from an attempted radical removal can be predicted - allowing a trea tment algorithm to be devised that combines both surgery (radical and "cons ervative") and radiotherapy (both external fractionated and intracyst insti llations) in order to achieve long-term tumour control that is not at the e xpense of a severe functional disability.