Advances in the management of craniopharyngioma.

Craniopharyngioma is a curable benign tumor, but owing to its intimate relationship to critical structures in the central brain-such as the optic apparatus, pituitary, hypothalamus, intracranial vasculature, brain stem, and temporal lobes-its management introduces the risk of long-term treatment morbidity. Today, the most common treatment approach is conservative subtotal resection followed by radiotherapy, and the goal is to limit long-term toxicity. Many recent advances in the treatment of craniopharyngioma are attributable to improved surgical techniques and radiotherapy technologies.