Craniopharyngioma

Treatment

Physicians recommend surgery for many craniopharyngiomas. Surgery is performed by an otorhinolaryngologist and a neurosurgeon. Surgeons will take a sample of the tumor and send it to the laboratory for examination (biopsy). A pathologist determines whether the tumor is malignant or benign. Most craniopharyngiomas are benign. Surgery may be the only treatment necessary for a benign craniopharyngioma.

For complex craniopharyngioma cases, Mayo Clinic surgeons and radiation oncologists may recommend stereotactic radiosurgery, fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy, or another surgical procedure.

During a procedure, a surgeon may determine that none or only a small part of a tumor can be safely removed. In that situation, the doctor may recommend radiation therapy following surgery. Malignant tumors may require radiation and/or chemotherapy after surgery.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays, electron beams, or radioactive isotopes to kill cancer cells. Radiation oncologists at Mayo Clinic tailor each treatment to protect nearby normal tissue. Patients have access to the Mayo Clinic technologies for treatment planning and delivery including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). These advanced systems help radiation oncologists and neurosurgeons treat the cancer effectively while limiting radiation to critical normal tissues, such as the eyes, optic nerves, brain, brain stem, and spinal cord. This is important for cancers located in the head and neck.

Chemotherapy

When a biopsy reveals that a craniopharyngioma is malignant, medical oncologists use drugs to destroy cancer cells. The chemotherapy may be given by mouth or infused into the patient's veins.