Abstract
A craniopharyngioma (CP) is an embryonic malformation of the sellar and parasellar region. The annual incidence is 0.5–2.0 cases/million/year and approximately 60 % of CP are seen in adulthood. Craniopharyngiomas have the highest mortality of all pituitary tumors. Typical initial manifestations at diagnosis in adults are visual disturbances, hypopituitarism and symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. The long-term morbidity is substantial with hypopituitarism, increased cardiovascular risk, hypothalamic damage, visual and neurological deficits, reduced bone health, and reduction in quality of life and cognitive function. Therapy of choice is surgery, followed by cranial radiotherapy in about half of the patients. The standardised overall mortality rate varies 2.88–9.28 in cohort studies. Patients with CP have a 3–19 fold higher cardiovascular mortality in comparison to the general population. Women with CP have an even higher risk.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by The Swedish Research Council (Grant no K 2002-72X-14257-01), the Swedish Children’s Cancer Foundation, the Medical Faculty, Lund University, Sweden.
Conflict of interest
EM Erfurth is a member of Eli Lilly and Company Advisory Board, all other authors have nothing to disclose.
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Erfurth, E.M., Holmer, H. & Fjalldal, S.B. Mortality and morbidity in adult craniopharyngioma. Pituitary 16, 46–55 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-012-0428-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-012-0428-2