In addition, these tumors are often quite adherent to arteries that supply blood to vital areas of the brain. If these arteries are injured during the removal of the tumor, the patient could suffer a stroke resulting in permanent paralysis or other severe neurologic deficit. The bleeding that occurs when large arteries at the base of the brain are torn may be very difficult to stop. We believe, therefore, that the surgeon must have as much information as is practicable to obtain regarding the tumor's boundaries and be able to use the utmost clinical judgment when removing the tumor in order to avoid or minimize these potential complications. Despite the most careful planning and intraoperative technical expertise, however, inadvertent injury to these vital structures can still occur.
Radiation therapy is an important part of treatment strategy in many institutions.
Various types of radiation therapy can be employed to treat craniopharyngioma, including the delivery of external beam radiation to the tumor volume, or the instillation of isotopes such as radioactive phosphorus or Yttrium directly within cystic portions of the tumor. Many children who come to the hospital with a craniopharyngioma are often very sick with pressure symptoms or visual deficits. The radiation therapy does not work quickly enough to reduce these symptoms and surgery is often required emergently to deal with the pressure of the tumor and cyst. Once radiation therapy is given, it unfortunately does not have a guaranteed cure rate and it is still possible for tumors to regrow even years after initial treatment. There have been many recent advances in the technological delivery of radiation therapy, however, that may lessen the long-term likelihood of these complications.