Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurosurgery

Background: Craniopharyngiomas are challenging tumors that most frequently occur in the sellar or suprasellar regions. The extended endoscopic, endonasal, transsphenoidal approach is a minimal-invasive technique for managing craniopharyngiomas. Because of their sellar, suprasellar and parasellar extension, these tumors challenge vision , pituitary and hypothalamic functions. Exquisite endonasal microsurgical techniques and devoted instrumentation facilitates a high rate of endocrine function preservation and visual improvement while achieving acceptable extent of resection. Methods: This is an observational prospective study of 15 patients of Craniopharyngiomathat were treated via an extended endonasal,endoscopic, trans-sphenoid approach at kasr AL Ainy university hospital. All patients underwent pre- and post-operative ophthalmological and endocrinological evaluation. Results: The study included 15 patients, 5 males and 10 females, ages ranged from 10 to 60 years (mean age 35 years). Gross total resection was achieved in 11 patients (73.3%). The most common surgical complication in our series was CSF leakage in 5 patients (33%). None of our patients suffered from worsening of endocrinological or visual outcome postoperatively

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