Background: Treatment of cystic craniopharyngiomas is often complicated because of adherence of craniopharyngiomas to adjacent brain structures. A strategy involving neuroendoscopic procedures followed by stereotactic radiotherapy is less invasive, avoiding brain damage. However, long-term follow-up of this strategy has not been investigated in depth.
Methods: Cystic craniopharyngiomas in 9 patients were treated with neuroendoscopic cyst aspiration and fenestration, followed by fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT). The neuroendoscopic procedure focused on widening of cyst fenestration and extensive irrigation of the cyst contents. FSRT was performed using 6 fixed beams, an 8-mm margin to cover the gross tumor volume with a 95% isodose line, and a target delivered dose of 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions.
Results: The median follow-up period was 72.9 months. Tumor control was achieved in 8 of 9 patients (88.9%). Marked tumor volume reduction was obtained with the neuroendoscopic procedure alone (26.1%) at 6 months (20.4%), 1 year (11.0%), and 2 years (3.1%). One recurrent case showed multilobulated cysts, and a second surgery was required 1 year after the treatment. Clinical symptoms such as headache and visual disruption were rapidly alleviated after the neuroendoscopic procedure. No new visual disturbances, endocrinopathy, or hypothalamic dysfunction was observed during follow up.
Conclusions: Neuroendoscopic cyst aspiration and fenestration followed by FSRT is a less invasive, powerful strategy for treating adult cystic craniopharyngiomas.
Keywords: Cystic craniopharyngioma; Neuroendoscopy; Stereotactic radiotherapy.
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