What is Craniopharyngeal duct?

Craniopharyngeal duct is a bony channel that connects the floor of the sella turcica, along the midline, to the nasopharynx. 3. It can persist as a corticated defect of the midline sphenoid body. Craniopharyngeal duct is believed to arise owing to a defect in the normal development of the pituitary.

What type of doctor treats craniopharyngioma?

A patient diagnosed with a craniopharyngioma should be evaluated by a neurosurgical team with advanced training and extensive experience in children’s brain tumors.

What are craniopharyngiomas?

(KRAY-nee-oh-fuh-RIN-jee-OH-muh) A rare, benign (not cancer) brain tumor that usually forms near the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. Craniopharyngiomas are slow-growing and do not spread to other parts of the brain or to other parts of the body.

How can you tell the difference between pituitary adenoma and craniopharyngioma?

However, pituitary adenomas and craniopharyngiomas differ from each other, as follows: 1) pituitary adenomas are the third most common type of intracranial tumor and represent a significant proportion of brain tumors affecting humans and approximately 80% of sellar lesions, whereas craniopharyngiomas represent only 1 …

Where are craniopharyngiomas located?

Craniopharyngioma is a rare type of noncancerous (benign) brain tumor. Craniopharyngioma begins near the brain’s pituitary gland, which secretes hormones that control many body functions. As a craniopharyngioma slowly grows, it can affect the function of the pituitary gland and other nearby structures in the brain.

Is craniopharyngioma a rare disease?

Craniopharyngiomas occur in around 0.5 to 2 people per million each year and represent around 1.2 to 4% of all intracranial tumors in children. They mostly develop in two age groups (bimodal incidence peaks): children aged 0 to 14 years and adults aged 50 to 74 years. They occur in men and women equally.

Do craniopharyngiomas grow back?

Although histologically benign, craniopharyngioma can regrow either from macroscopic remnants of the tumour left behind at operation, or even after an apparently gross total removal.

Can pituitary tumors be missed on MRI?

They can show macroadenomas of the pituitary gland, as well as most microadenomas. But MRI might not detect microadenomas that are smaller than 3 mm (about 1/8 inch) across. Sometimes the MRI scan will show a small change in the pituitary that has nothing to do with the patient’s symptoms.

How long does an MRI of pituitary gland take?

The MRI takes about half an hour to an hour (30-60 minutes). It does not hurt. The MRI machine is a long tube with a hole in either end. There is also a bed that slides into tube.

What type of surgeon removes pituitary tumors?

Neurosurgeons at the Johns Hopkins Pituitary Tumor Center can remove nearly all benign pituitary tumors using endonasal endoscopic surgery. This minimally-invasive approach enables neurosurgeons to: Remove tumors and lesions through the nose and sinuses, without cutting the face or the skull.