Purpose: Previous studies of sellar gliomas have been confined to pediatric optic pilocytic gliomas. The present study aimed to analyze the features of sellar gliomas involving both pediatric and adult patients with various pathologies and to compare them with craniopharyngiomas to better differentiate the diagnosis.
Methods: Twenty-seven sellar gliomas were retrospectively examined regarding their demographics, pathologies, clinical and imaging presentations, surgeries and postoperative complications. Thirty craniopharyngiomas from the same period and 880 gliomas of the most common pathologies from 2008-2014 were included for comparisons.
Results: In total, 55.6% of the sellar gliomas were adult cases. The pathology included pilocytic astrocytoma, ganglioglioma, diffuse astrocytoma, pilomyxoid astrocytoma, oligoastrocytoma, and glioblastoma. Compared with craniopharygiomas, sellar gliomas presented with a significantly lower ratio of visual disturbances, growth hormone deficiencies, lesion cystic changes, and calcification. Sellar gliomas had significantly greater effects on the patients' mentality and anatomical brain stem involvement. Total resections were achieved in 11 patients, which were significantly lower compared with craniopharyngiomas.
Conclusions: Sellar gliomas affect both pediatric and adult patients with pathological changes extending beyond pilocytic astrocytomas. They have diverse clinical manifestations and imaging presentations. Differences exist regarding several aspects between sellar gliomas and craniopharyngiomas, which may facilitate a differential diagnosis.
© 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.