Endoscopic Endonasal Resection of Craniopharyngiomas: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

Objectives : Transcranial approaches were historically the first established routes for craniopharyngiomas resection. There is a limited body of literature on the outcome of endoscopic endonasal approach in resection of craniopharyngiomas. Therefore, the present study aims to assess the outcome of endoscopic endonasal approach in resection of craniopharyngiomas. Study Design : We retrospectively analyze and report our case series result and surgical outcomes and complications. Material and Methods : Total 11 patients underwent surgery at Loghman-Hakim and Day General Hospitals (Tehran, Iran). One patient had recurrent lesion. The gross-total resection (GTR) was attempted in nine surgeries. Results : GTR in nine cases and near-total resection in three cases were achieved. The average follow-up period was 30 months during which one recurrence in near resection cases was observed. Vision was improved by 80%. Seven cases developed diabetes insipidus that three was permanent and three cases developed panhypopituitarism postoperatively. Furthermore, postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks occurred in two patients, one of them needed reoperation for CSF leak management. In addition, postoperative bacterial meningitis occurred in two cases. Postoperative mortality was one due to bacterial meningitis and hyponatremia. Conclusion : Endoscopic, endonasal surgery for craniopharyngioma can be accompanied by high rates of GTR in selected case with acceptable results.