Craniopharyngioma is a rare, slow-growing benign tumor that arises from remnants of the craniopharyngeal duct near the pituitary gland. It occurs most commonly in children aged 5-10 years and adults aged 50-60 years. Histologically, there are two main types: adamantinous and papillary. Adamantinous craniopharyngiomas are more common in children, often calcified and cystic. Papillary craniopharyngiomas occur in older patients and are typically solid. Patients present with headaches, visual symptoms, and hormonal imbalances. On imaging, craniopharyngiomas are often suprasellar but can extend throughout the ventricular system

1. BY
DR.ROOHIA

2.  Inroduction
 Frequency
 Pathology
 Clinical presentation

3.  “Craniopharyngioma”
was the name
introduced by Cushing
for tumors derived
“from epithelial rests
ascribable to an
imperfect closure of the
hypophysial or
craniopharyngeal duct.”
 Craniopharyngiomas
are benign tumors that
occur at the base of the
brain, above the
pituitary gland.

4.  Craniopharyngioma is a slow-growing, extra-
axial, epithelial-squamous, calcified, cystic
tumor. ( WHO grade I)
 arising from remnants of the
craniopharyngeal duct and/or Rathke cleft
and occupying the (supra)sellar region.

5.  INCIDENCE:
 Annual incidence rate being between 0.5 and 2.5
new cases per million population per year.
Age:
 Bimodal- 5-10yr & 50-60yr
 Adults- 1-3% of intracranial tumors
- 13-15% sellar or supra sellar
 Childrens-56% of sellar or supra sellar tumors.
Sex:
slight male predominance 55%
Race:
Higher in Africa,Far east & Japan(18,16,10.5%)

6.  The embryogenetic theory
 The embryogenetic theory relates to the
development of the adenohypophysis and
transformation of the remnant ectoblastic cells
of the craniopharyngeal duct and the involuted
Rathke pouch.
 Rathke pouch and the infundibulum develop
during the fourth week of gestation and together
form the hypophysis.
 Rathke cleft, together with remnants of the
craniopharyngeal duct, can be the site of origin of
craniopharyngiomas.

7.  The metaplastic theory
 The metaplastic theory relates to the residual
squamous epithelium which may undergo
metaplasia.
 The dual theory explains the craniopharyngioma
spectrum
1. adamantinous type (most prevalent in
childhood) to embryonic remnants.
2. adult type (squamous papillary) to metaplastic
foci derived from mature cells of the
anteriorhypophysis.
3. Mixed type – 15%

8.  Some craniopharyngiomas are monoclonal in
origin, and cytogenetic abnormalities have
been reported in chromosomes 2 and 12.
 Mutations of the β-catenin gene have been
identified in 70% of adamantinomatous
craniopharyngiomas.

9.  GROSS: smooth lobulated capsule
 Solid- calcified
 Cystic-machine oil
(crankcase oil)

10.  Epithelial lesion with
peripheral palisading of
basal squamous epithelium
surrounding loosely
arranged epithelial cells, the
so-called "stellate
reticulum" and nodules of
keratin and variable
calcification are typical
histologic features of a
craniopharyngioma.
 These nodules are referred
to as "wet" keratin because
of the plump appearance of
the keratinocytes.

12.  composed of simple
squamous epithelium
and fibrovascular
islands of connective
tissue.

13.  The brain
parenchyma that
surrounds both
variants of
craniopharyngioma is
typically gliotic and
often shows profuse
numbers of
eosinophilic
Rosenthal fibers.

Rosenthal fibers in neuropil surrounding
the craniopharyngioma.

14. Adamantinomatous
craniopharyngiomas
 More common
 Occur at a younger age
 Commonly calcified
 Commonly cystic and filled
with cholesterol-rich fluid or
soft necrotic debris.
 A palisading layer of basaloid
epithelium surrounds
irregularly arranged cells that
resemble the stellate reticulum
of the epidermis. These nests
may be solid but often form a
complex trabecular network of
microcysts. Bands of fibrous
tissue weave between nests of
epithelial cells and around
cyst
 Keratin nodules are commonly
seen.
Papillary craniopharyngiomas
 Less common
 Occur at an older age
 Calcification is less common
 Commonly solid.
 Squamous epithelial nests
that surround loose
fibrovascular tissue rather
than microcysts create a
solid tumor with a
pseudopapillary pattern.
 Keratin nodules are not
seen.

15.  A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery.
 proximal portion of the posterior
communicating artery.
 intracavernous meningohypophyseal arteries.

16.  Anterior extension to
the prechiasmatic
cistern and subfrontal
spaces; posterior
extension into the
prepontine and
interpeduncular
cisterns,
cerebellopontine angle,
third ventricle, posterior
fossa,and foramen
magnum; and laterally
toward the subtemporal
spaces.

17.  headaches and raised ICP
 visual symptoms
 20% of children
 80% adults
 hormonal imbalances
 short stature and delayed
puberty in children
 decreased libido
 amenorrhoea
 diabetes insipidus
 behavioural change due to
frontal or temporal
extension

18.  prechiasmal localization typically results in
associated findings of optic atrophy (eg,
progressive decline of visual acuity and
constriction of visual fields).
 retrochiasmal location commonly is associated
with hydrocephalus, with signs of increased
intracranial pressure (eg, papilledema and
horizontal double vision).
 intrasellar craniopharyngioma usually
manifests with headache and endocrinopathy.

19.  Hoffman et al: sella turcica
optic chiasm
floor of 3rd ventricle
1. Prechiasmatic
2. Retrochiasmatic
3. Subchiasmatic
4. intraventricular

20.  Sammi et al: vertical projection
 Grade I- intra sellar/infra diaphragmatic
 Grade II-Occupying cistern with/with out an
intrasellar component.
 Grade III- Lower ½ of 3rd ventricle
 Grade IV- Upper ½ of 3rd ventricle
 Grade V- Reaching the septum pllucidum or
lateral ventricle.

21.  Rathke's cleft cyst
 no solid / enhancing component
 unilocular
 majority are completely or mostly intrasellar
 Pituitary macroadenoma (with cystic degeneration /
necrosis)
 can look very similar
 usually has intrasellar epicentre with pituitary fossa
enlargement rather than suprasellar epicentre
 despite occasional presence of T1 bright cystic regions,
calcification in these cases is often absent (whereas
most adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas are calcified)
 Intracranial teratoma
 presence of fat is helpful, but requires fat saturated sequences
or CT of confirm

22. THANK YOU