[Craniopharyngioma and its impact upon human reproduction: analysis of 15 cases at the Hospital Juarez de Mexico].

BACKGROUND

Craniopharyngiomas are intracranial tumors of non-glial origin derived from cellular remnants of the Rathke's pouch. Their frequency is 1-3% of intracranial tumors and 13% of suprasellar neoplasms. Histologically, it is a benign lesion, albeit clinically severe with a high index of relapse and sequelae upon the reproductive function.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the clinical characteristics of patients with craniopharyngiomas before and after treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We reviewed our experience of 15 cases with craniopharyngioma seen at the Hospital Juarez de Mexico from 1995 throughout 2002.

RESULTS

Prevalence was higher in males (ratio 2:1) with ages between 6-45 years old (X 17.9 +/- 6.45 years). The most common symptoms were cephalalgia (100%) and visual disorders (93%); the average levels of hormonal determination were in females: FSH 1.0 mIU/mL, LH 0.5 mIU/mL, estradiol 11.0 pg/mL, PRL 80 mg/mL. In males: FSH 1.7 mIU/mL, LH 2.6 mIU/mL, testosterone 0.6 mg/dL and PRL 29 mg/mL. All patients had hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Tumoral relapse was mostly seen in patients who underwent only surgery (n = 7, 46.6%). The ones with surgery and radiotherapy (n = 8, 53.3%) did not disclose symptoms that required another surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The main repercussion of craniopharyngioma, due to its proximity to hypothalamus and hypophysis, is on the endocrine and reproductive areas of human being.