Intracavitary therapy of craniopharyngiomas

Craniopharyngiomas are benign cystic para-hypophyseal tumors often associat ed with hypopituitarism and visual-held abnormalities. Their therapy by sur gery and external beam radiotherapy is imperfect. The intracavitary instill ation of beta-emitting colloid radiopharmaceuticals into the cysts permits the delivery of far higher radiation doses to the cyst lining than is possi ble by external beam radiotherapy. This technique permits destruction of th e lining epithelium with resultant elimination of cyst fluid formation and cyst shrinkage in up to 80% of cases.