Radical surgery in a neonate with craniopharyngioma - Report of a case

Ultrasonography revealed a suprasellar tumor in a fetus at 28 weeks of gest ation. The male newborn, delivered 10 weeks later, was operated at the age of 17 days, and a craniopharyngioma was completely removed. Intraoperativel y, inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone occurred and was followe d by diabetes insipidus causing imbalance of fluid and electrolytes. The tu mor recurred and was totally removed 1 year later. Further development was uneventful and, at the age of 8 years, the boy is in generally good mental and physical condition except for a left-sided hemiparesis. In contrast to the poor outcome of neonatal craniopharyngioma reviewed in the literature, this case may encourage radical surgery even in the very young. Copyright ( C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.