Skip to main content
Log in

Therapeutic benefits of combination chemotherapy with vincristine, BCNU, and procarbazine on recurrent cystic craniopharyngioma

A case report

  • Published:
Journal of Neuro-Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The authors report a case of recurrent cystic craniopharyngioma managed with chemotherapy. The patient refused adamantly the alternative therapy methods, such as surgery and radiotherapy, initially offered. Eight courses of chemotherapy with vincristine (2 mg/M2, i.v.) on day 1, 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (100 Mg/M2, i.v.) on day 2, and procarbazine (50 mg, b.i.d., p.o.) on days 3 to 21 were administered at 6 week intervals. The effectiveness of this treatment modality has been evaluated by the unequivocal neurological improvement and by the decreases in size of the cyst using serial computerized tomography. Toxocities were mild and chiefly hematological.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cushing H: Intracranial Tumors. Notes upon a series of two thousand verified cases with surgical mortality percentages pertaining thereto. Charles C Thomas, Springfield, Ill, 1932, p 97.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Horrax G: Benign (favorable) types of brain tumor. The end results (up to twenty years, with statistics of mortality and useful survival. New Engl J Med 250:981–984, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Russel DS, Rubinstein LJ: Pathology of tumors of the nervous system. Williams & Wilkins Co, Baltimore, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Olivecrona H: The surgical treatment of intracranial tumors. Handbuch der Neurochirurgie. Vol IV. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg-New York, 1967, pp 1–301.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ingraham FD, Scott HW: Craniopharyngiomas in children. J Pediat 29:95–116, 1946.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Matson DD, Crigler JF: Radical treatment of craniopharyngioma. Ann Surg 152:699–704, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Svien HJ: Surgical experiences with craniopharyngiomas. J Neurosurg 23:148–155, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Svolos DG: Craniopharyngiomas: A study based on 108 verified cases. Acta Chir Scand Suppl 403:1–44, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hoff JT, Patterson RH Jr: Craniopharyngiomas in children and adults. J Neurosurg 36:299–302, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kahn EA, Gosch HH, Seeger JF, Hicks SP: Fourty-five years experience with craniopharyngiomas. Surg Neurol 1: 5–12, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Pertuiset B: Craniopharyngiomas. In: PJ Vinken and GW Bruyn (eds) Handbook of clinical neurology, Part II, Tumors of the brain and skull. North-Holland Publishing Co, Amsterdam, 1975, pp 531–572.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hoffman HJ, Hendrick EB, Humphreys RP, Buncic JR, Armstrong DL, Jenkins RD: Management of craniopharyngioma in children. J Neurosurg 47:218–227, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  13. McMurry FG, Hardy RW Jr, Dohn DF, Sadar E, Gardner WJ: Long term results in the management of craniopharyngiomas. Neurosurgery 1:238–241, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Shapiro K, Till K, Grant DN: Craniopharyngiomas in childhood. A rational approach to treatment. J Neurosurg 50:617–623, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Shillito J Jr: Craniopharyngiomas: The subfrontal approach, or none at all? In: PW Carmel (ed) Clinical Neurosurgery, Vol 27, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore/London, 1980, pp 188–205.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Sweet WH: Recurrent craniopharyngioma. Therapeutic alternatives. In: PW Carmel (ed) Clinical neurosurgery, Vol 27, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore/London, 1980, pp 206–229.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Cabezudo JM, Vaquero J, Areitio E, Martinez R, de Sola RG, Bravo G: Craniopharyngiomas: a critical approach to treatment. J Neurosurg 55:371–375, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Carmel PW, Antunes JL, Chang CH: Craniopharyngiomas in children. Neurosurgery 11:382–389, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Katz EL: Late results of radical excision of craniopharyngiomas in children. J Neurosurg 42:86–90, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Bartlett JR: Craniopharyngiomas: An analysis of some aspects of symptomatology, radiology and histology. Brain 94:725–732, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Michelsen WJ, Mount LA, Renaudin J: Craniopharyngioma: A thirty-nine year survey. Acta Neurol Lat Amer 18:100–106, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  22. 22.Gutin PH, Klemme WM, Lagger RL, MacKay AR, Pitts LH, Hosobuchi Y: Management of the unresectable cystic craniopharyngioma by aspiration through an Ommaya reservoir drainage system. J Neurosurg 52:36–40, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Carpenter RC, Chamberlin GW, Frazier CH: The treatment of hypophyseal stalk tumors by evacuation and irradiation. Amer J Roentgen 38:167–177, 1937.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Leddy ET, Marshall TM: Roentgen therapy of pituitary admantinomas (craniopharyngiomas). Radiology 56:384–393, 1951.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kramer S, McKissock W, Concannon JP: Craniopharyngiomas: treatment by combined surgery and radiation therapy. J Neurosurg 18:217–226, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Bloom HJG, Harmer CL: Craniopharyngiomas. Brit Med J 2:288–289, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Landolt AM: Can craniopharyngiomas be treated by radiotherapy (histologic and ultrastructural consideration)? In: KA Bushe, O Spoerri and J Shaw (eds) Progress in pediatric neurosurgery. Hyppokrates Verlag, Stuttgart, 1974, pp 232–236.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Bloom HJG: Combined modality therapy for intracranial tumors. Cancer 35:111–120, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Onoyama Y, Ono K, Yabumoto E, Takeuchi J: Radiation therapy of craniopharyngiomas. Radiology 125:799–803, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Wilson CB: Current concepts in cancer. Brain tumors. New Engl J Med 300:1469–1471, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Amacher AL: Craniopharyngioma: The controversy regarding radiotherapy. Childs Brain 6:57–64, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Leksell L, Lidén K: A therapeutic trial radioactive isotopes in cystic brain tumours: Radioisotope techniques, Vol 1. Medical and physiological applications. Her Majesty's Stationary Office, Oxford, 1951, pp 76–78.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Trippi AC, Garner JT, Kassabian JT, Shelden CH: A new approach to inoperable craniopharyngiomas. Amer J Surg 118:307–310, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Nakayama T, Kodama T, Matsukado Y: Treatment of inoperable craniopharyngioma with radioactive gold. No To Shinkei 23:509–513, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Backlund E-O, Johanson L, Sarby B: Studies on craniopharyngiomas. II. Treatment by stereotaxis and radiosurgery. Acta Chir Scand 138:749–759, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Kobayashi T, Kageyama N, Ohara K: Internal irradiation for cystic craniopharyngioma. J Neurosurg 55:896–903, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Wilson CB, Levin V, Hoshino T: Chemotherapy for brain tumors. In: JR Youmans (ed) Neurological surgery, Vol 5, WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia, Toronto, Mexico City, Sydney, Tokyo, 1982, pp 3065–3095.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Liszczak T, Richardson EP Jr, Phillips JP, Jacobson S, Kornblith P: Morphological, biochemical, ultrastructural, tissue culture and clinical observations of typical and aggressive craniopharyngiomas. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 43: 191–203, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bremer, A.M., Nguyen, T.Q. & Balsys, R. Therapeutic benefits of combination chemotherapy with vincristine, BCNU, and procarbazine on recurrent cystic craniopharyngioma. J Neuro-Oncol 2, 47–51 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00165157

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00165157

Keywords

Navigation