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Multidisciplinary teams at Mayo Clinic care for more than 2,000 patients a year who have brain tumors. Neurosurgeons, neurologists, oncologists, radiologists, radiation oncologists, pediatric neuro-oncologists, endocrinologists, behavioral pediatricians, and other specialists work together to diagnose and treat patients with craniopharyngiomas. Mayo Clinic in Rochester has care providers with special expertise in treating pediatric craniopharyngioma.
Craniopharyngiomas can be difficult to diagnose, but Mayo Clinic physicians are experienced in diagnosing this tumor. They take a medical history, perform a physical examination, and look carefully at appropriate imaging studies to make a diagnosis. They use magnetic resonance imaging and other high-resolution imaging techniques to help them locate craniopharyngioma. Read more about diagnosis of craniopharyngioma.
Treatment for craniopharyngiomas often involves surgery and/or radiation therapy, and occasionally chemotherapy. At each Mayo Clinic location, highly trained surgeons work with other specialists to develop a comprehensive treatment plan for each patient. Stereotactic radiosurgery is also available to patients for whom this treatment is appropriate. Read more about treatment options for craniopharyngioma.
Most craniopharyngiomas are benign. Craniopharyngiomas account for 2 percent to 4 percent of primary brain tumors in adults and 5 percent to 13 percent of brain tumors in children. Their location at the base of the skull near the pituitary gland can make them difficult to diagnose. Patients typically have no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. As a result, many seek treatment only after the tumor presses against or adheres to nearby structures such as the optic nerve, pituitary gland, or the brain.
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