Craniopharyngioma

Overview

A craniopharyngioma (kray-nee-o-fuh-rin-gee-O-muh) is a slow-growing, fairly rare brain tumor that occurs more often in children than in adults. It is not cancerous, but it can behave aggressively, damaging surrounding structures. Typically there are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease, making diagnosis difficult. As a result, people often seek treatment only after the tumor damages nearby structures, causing vision changes, hormonal changes or injury to another part of the brain.

Why choose Mayo Clinic

• Expertise and teamwork. Mayo Clinic's experienced brain tumor specialists and other health care professionals work together as a team to create a customized treatment plan for you, giving you access to the latest diagnostic and treatment options for craniopharyngioma.
• Newest technology. Mayo Clinic offers advanced technology for treating craniopharyngiomas, including minimally invasive surgery, image-guided surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery.
• Research. Mayo Clinic doctors and scientists are active in research on brain tumors. You have access to the latest diagnosis and treatment advances that result from this research.