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J Neurol Surg Rep 2016; 77(03): e121-e127
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1588060
Case Report
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Pathological and Topographical Classification of Craniopharyngiomas: A Literature Review

James Lubuulwa
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
,
Ting Lei
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

13 April 2016

26 July 2016

Publication Date:
22 August 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Craniopharyngiomas (CPs) are clinically relevant tumors of the sellar region and are associated with high morbidity and occasional mortality. There are two different subtypes of CPs that differ clinically and pathologically: adamantinomatous CP and papillary CP. The differential diagnosis is still challenging even with developments in preoperative imaging as several tumors of the sellar/parasellar region share a continuum of clinical characteristics and imaging similarities. Several topographical classifications of CPs have been mentioned in literature, but to date, there has not been a consensus on a standard reference classification system and there is need to a develop such a model.

Keywords

craniopharyngioma - classification - pathological features - topography
 

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