[Radiotherapeutic results in the treatment of craniopharyngioma].

From 1974 to 1985, twelve patients (seven children and five adults) with craniopharyngioma received megavoltage external beam radiation therapy at the University of Heidelberg. All patients had biopsy proven diagnosis. Nine patients received irradiation after incomplete surgical removal. Three patients were irradiated primarily because of inoperability. In all cases irradiation was applied by a rotation technique with 42 MeV photons. A mean dose of 52.2 Gy (ranged from 46 to 60 Gy) was administered at 2.0 Gy per fraction. In one case radiotherapy was broken off on account of the development of a hypoglycemic coma of unknown genesis. The mean follow-up period amounts nine years up to now. Local tumor control was achieved in nine patients. Two deaths occurred from tumor progression, after temporary improvement. In all cases no radiation related neurological, ophthalmological or endocrine side effects were observed.