Radical Surgery in a Neonate with Craniopharyngioma

Ultrasonography revealed a suprasellar tumor in a fetus at 28 weeks of gestation. The male newborn, delivered 10 weeks later, was operated at the age of 17 days, and a craniopharyngioma was completely removed. Intraoperatively, inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone occurred and was followed by diabetes insipidus causing imbalance of fluid and electrolytes. The tumor recurred and was totally removed 1 year later. Further development was uneventful and, at the age of 8 years, the boy is in generally good mental and physical condition except for a left-sided hemiparesis. In contrast to the poor outcome of neonatal craniopharyngioma reviewed in the literature, this case may encourage radical surgery even in the very young.