There are cystic regions within high signal intensity on T1 weighted images suggesting high protein contrast. There is obstructive hydrocephalus. Craniopharyngiomas are benign tumors which arise from neuroepithelial rests within Rathke's cleft. They re generally extremely heterogenous tumors composed of intermixed cystic and solid components. There is a bimodal age distribution, with the majority presenting in the pediatric age group while a second peak is found in the 5th decade.
Patients generally present with headaches secondary to obstructive hydrocephalus.
Patients may also present with diabetes insipidis, growth retardation, or bitemporal hemianopsia. The differential diagnosis would include optic glioma, epidermoid, meningioma, and pituitary adenoma, although the characteristic imaging findings often allow relatively accurate differentiation from these lesions. CT and MR Imaging of the Whole Body . Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography. Dahnert W. Radiology Review Manual .