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Social and psycho-intellectual outcome following radical removal of craniopharyngiomas in childhood

A prospective series

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Abstract

Background

A prospective study on childhood craniopharyngiomas (CPs) was conducted from 1994 to 1998 to appreciate the pre- and postoperative clinical, endocrine, mental, and intellectual status of the patients and to determine the incidence and severity of the postoperative hypothalamic syndrome.

Methods

The series included 14 consecutive CPs. Twelve were retrochiasmatic and intraventricular, and two were partly prechiasmatic and extraventricular. All were treated with the aim of “total” removal. The removal was “total” in nine cases but incomplete in the other five. Immediate postoperative follow-up was uncomplicated in all cases.

Conclusion

At 2-year follow-up, the two children with an extraventricular CP and a “total” tumor removal were intellectually normal, had no hypothalamic syndrome, and attended normal school with good results. The 12 others, although still intellectually normal, were more or less severely affected by a hypothalamic syndrome which altered their social insertion and caused academic failure. The authors conclude from this study that radical surgery should be reserved to extraventricular CPs only.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Groupe hospitalier Necker Enfants Malades Paris, 149 rue de Sèvres, 75743, Paris, Cedex 15, France

    A. Pierre-Kahn, M. Zerah & C. Sainte Rose

  2. CMPP, Saint Maure des Fossés, France

    C. Recassens

  3. Department of Endocrinology, Groupe hospitalier Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France

    G. Pinto, C. Thalassinos & R. Brauner

  4. Department of Neurology, Fondation Ophtalmologique Rothschild, Paris, France

    S. Chokron

  5. Department of Medical Biology, Groupe hospitalier Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France

    J. C. Soubervielle

Authors
  1. A. Pierre-Kahn
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  2. C. Recassens
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  3. G. Pinto
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  4. C. Thalassinos
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  5. S. Chokron
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  6. J. C. Soubervielle
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  7. R. Brauner
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  8. M. Zerah
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  9. C. Sainte Rose
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Correspondence to A. Pierre-Kahn.

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Pierre-Kahn, A., Recassens, C., Pinto, G. et al. Social and psycho-intellectual outcome following radical removal of craniopharyngiomas in childhood. Childs Nerv Syst 21, 817–824 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-005-1205-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-005-1205-6

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