Skip to main content
Log in

Infrasellar craniopharyngioma

  • Case Reports
  • Published:
Neuroradiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A rare case of infrasellar craniopharyngioma mainly occupying the paranasal sinuses, the infratemporal fossa and the skull base is presented. The patient had been treated by an otolaryngologist as a case of mucocele of the sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses because the biopsy specimens obtained at endonasal surgery failed to confirm the true diagnosis. Computed tomography (CT) showed multilobulated low density cysts in the paranasal sinuses, infratemporal fossa and skull base, and the cyst wall was enhanced. Magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed the cysts to have high intensity in both T1-and T2-weighted images, and excellent three-dimensional visualization was obtained. Characteristic motor-oil-like fluid was aspirated during transnasal surgery and the diagnosis of craniopharyngioma was confirmed by histological examination.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Erdheim J (1904) Über Hypophysengangsgeschwulste und Hirncholesteatome. Sitzungsber Finn Akad Wiss 113:537–726

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ishivama R, Yasue S, Sanada S, Yuki K, Nakamura N (1977) Rare Cases of Craniopharyngioma Extending into the Nasopharynx — Two case reports. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 17:71–77

    Google Scholar 

  3. Fujitani K, Hakuba A, Kojima S, Mishima Y, Tsujimoto T, Nishimura S (1979) Craniopharyngioma originating in the sphenoid sinus. Extending into the nasal cavity. Neurol Surg (Tokyo) 7:181–186

    Google Scholar 

  4. Mukada K, Mori S, Matsumura S, Uozumi T, Goishi J (1984) Intrasellar craniopharyngioma. Surg Neurol 21:563–571

    Google Scholar 

  5. Maiuri F, Corriero G, Elfante R, Cirillo S, Giamundo A (1987) Craniopharyngioma of the cranial base and nasoparynx., Surg Neurol 27:191–194

    Google Scholar 

  6. Young SC, Zimmerman RA, Nowell MA, Bilaniuk LT, Hackney DB, Grossman RI, Goldberg HI (1987) Giant cystic cranioparyngiomas. Neuroradiology 29:468–473

    Google Scholar 

  7. Numaguchi Y, Kishikawa T, Ikeda J, Fukui M, Kitamura K, Tsukamoto Y, Hasuo K, Matsuura K (1981) Neuroradiological manifestations of suprasellar pituitary adenomas, meningiomas and craniopharyngiomas. Neuroradiology 21:67–74

    Google Scholar 

  8. Pusey E, Kortman KE, Flannigan, BD, Tsuruda J, Bradley WG (1987) MR of craniopharygiomas: Tumor delineation and characterization. AJNR 8:439–444

    Google Scholar 

  9. Lloyd GAS, Lund VJ, Phelps PD, Howard DJ (1987) Magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of nose and paranasal sinus disease. Br J Radiol 60:957–968

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Akimura, T., Kameda, H., Abiko, S. et al. Infrasellar craniopharyngioma. Neuroradiology 31, 180–183 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00698851

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00698851

Key words

Navigation