Adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma

Case contributed by Jheferson Contreras Grande
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Headache and visual disturbances.

Patient Data

Age: 65 years
Gender: Male

There is a slightly hyperdense sellar/suprasellar mass with some peripheral calcifications. It displaces the optic chiasm and hypothalamus.

No hydrocephalus.

There is a large homogeneous cystic lesion with proteinaceous content without solid mass, located in the sellar/suprasellar region.  It is T1-WI hypertense and T2-WI isointense without enhancement after contrast administration. 

The lesion displaces the optic chiasm, infundibulum, hypothalamus and cavernous sinus.

Case Discussion

The patient went on to have a biopsy.

Histology

Macroscopic findings: Sellar tumor, a fragment of brownish tissue of 0.3 x 5 cm was received. The entire sample was included.

Final diagnosis: Craniopharyngioma (WHO grade I).

Discussion

This is not a typical case of adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma in that calcification is absent on CT and certainly not typical of a papillary craniopharyngioma (which is usually solid with few water-intensity cyst). A T1 hyperintense masses in the sellar region, the differential diagnosis should include:

Editor note 

Unfortunately, additional diagnostic information is not available and it is uncertain whether this represents an adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma or papillary craniopharyngioma. Given baseline frequency and the dominant cystic component with high T1 signal this most likely represents an adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma. 

 

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