Hypophyseal duct tumors or craniopharyngioma, or Rathke pouch tumor are rare solid or mixed solid-cystic tumors that arise from the remnants of Rathke’s pouch along a line from the nasopharynx to diencephalon. Craniopharyngiomas comprise about 5-10% of brain tumors in children and have a bimodal age distribution with the first peak in children between 5-14 years and the second peak in adults between 50-75 years. This article covers the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of craniopharyngioma. Craniopharyngiomas are epithelial tumors that usually arise from the pituitary stalk in the supra-sellar region, adjacent to the optic chiasm.
Most tumors are slow growing and are comprised of solid and cystic contents. The cysts are filled with a turbid fluid which contains the cholesterol crystals. Clinical Presentation Visual symptoms- Can be a direct result of the pressure on optic…
