Radiosensitive squamous cell craniopharyngioma: clinical and pathological comparison with the adamantinomatous type.

Five patients with the squamous cell type of craniopharyngioma were examined clinically and pathologically, and comparisons were made with the adamantinomatous type of craniopharyngioma. In three patients, the tumor remaining after partial or subtotal resection was treated with conventional radiation therapy, and all three lesions disappeared completely. The squamous cell tumors consisted of basal cubodial cells and polygonal superficial cells with areas of cellular detachment and degeneration. Our findings suggest that these tumors are more radiosensitive than adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas and represent a distinct clinical entity.