Abstract
Objective
The objective of the study is to review the pathogenesis of craniopharyngiomas.
Methods
A literature review of articles relating to the embryogenesis of the pituitary gland and sella and the pathogenesis of craniopharyngiomas was performed.
Conclusions
Craniopharyngiomas are benign, epithelial neoplasms of the sella and parasellar region seen in children and adults that may arise from neoplastic transformation of ectoderm-derived epithelial cell remnants of Rathke’s pouch and the craniopharyngeal duct.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arginteanu M, Hague K, Zimmerman R, Kupersmith MJ, Shaiu JH, Schaeffer J, Post KD (1997) Craniopharyngioma arising de novo in middle age. Case report. J Neurosurg 86:1046–1048
Atwell WJ (1926) The development of the hypophysis cerebri in man with special reference to the pars tuberalis. Am J Anat 37:159–193
Bobustuc GC, Groves MD, Fuller GN, DeMonte F (2002) Craniopharyngioma. In eMedicine
Carmel PW (1998) Craniopharyngiomas. In: Wilkins RH, Rengachary SS (eds) Neurosurgery, vol 1, 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 1389–1400
Carmichael HT (1931) Squamous epithelial rests in the hypophysis cerebri. Arch Neurol Psych 26:966–975
Critchley M, Ironside RN (1926) The pituitary adamantinoma. Brain 49:437–481
Cushing H (1932) Intracranial tumors: notes upon a series of two thousand verified cases with surgical mortality percentages pertaining thereto. Springfield, Thomas, pp 1–150
Duffy WC (1920) Hypophyseal duct tumors. Ann Surg 72:537–555
Erdheim J (1904) Uber Hypophysenganggeschwulste und Hirncholesteatome. Sitzber Kais Akad Wiss, Math-NatWiss Cl, Abt 3 113:537–726
Frazier CH, Alpers BJ (1931) Adamantinoma of the craniopharyngeal duct. Arch Neurol Psych 26:905–967
Goldberg GM, Eshbaugh DE (1960) Squamous cell nests of the pituitary gland as related to the origin of craniopharyngiomas: a study of their presence in the newborn and infants up to age four. Arch Pathol Lab Med 70:293–299
Hanna E, Weissman J, Janecka IP (1998) Sphenoclival Rathke’s cleft cysts: embryology, clinical appearance, and management. Ear Nose Throat J 77(5):396–399
Harrison MJ, Morgello S, Post KD (1994) Epithelial cystic lesions of the sellar and parasellar region: a continuum of ectodermal derivatives? J Neurosurg 80:1018–1025
Ingraham FD, Scott HW (1946) Craniopharyngiomas in children. J Pediatr 19:96–116
Janzer RC, Burger PC, Giangaspero F, Paulus W (2000) Craniopharyngioma. In: Kleihues P, Cavenee WK (eds) Tumors of the nervous system. IARC Press, Lyon, France, pp 244–246
Kiyona H (1924) Uber das vorkommen von plattenepithelherden in der hypophyse. Virchows Arch, Pathol Anat 252:118–145
Love JG, Marshall TM (1950) Craniopharyngiomas (pituitary adamantinomas). Surg Gynecol Obstet 90:591–601
Luse SA, Kernohan JW (1955) Squamous cell rests of the pituitary gland. Cancer 8:623–628
Miller DC (1994) Pathology of craniopharyngiomas: clinical import of pathological findings. Pediatr Neurosurg 21(Suppl 1):11–17
Mott FW, Barratt JO (1899) Three cases of tumor of the third ventricle. Arch Neurol Psych 1:417–440
Muller R, Wohlfart G (1950) Craniopharyngiomas. Acta Med Scand 138:121–138
Pait TG, Arnautovic KI (1999) The pituitary: historical notes. In: Krisht AF, Tindall GT (eds) Pituitary disorders. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, MD, pp 3–19
Peet MM (1927) Pituitary adamantinomas: report of three cases. Arch Surg 15:829–854
Podoshin L, Rolan L, Altman MM, Peyser E (1970) “Pharyngeal” cranio-pharyngioma. J Laryngol Otol 84:93–99
Rathke H (1938) Uber die Entstehung der Glandula pituitaria. Arch Anat Physiol Wiss Med 5:482–485
Shanklin WM (1951) The histogenesis and histology of an integumentary type of epithelium in the human hypophysis. Anat Rec 109:217–231
Shuangshoti S, Netsky MG, Nashold BS (1970) Epithelial cysts related to sella turcica. Arch Pathol 90:444–450
Susman W (1932) Embryonic epithelial nests in the pituitary. Br J Surg 19:571–576
Sweet WH (1994) History of surgery for craniopharyngiomas. Pediatr Neurosurg 21(Suppl 1):28–38
Tilney F (1914) An analysis of the juxta-neural epithelial portion of the hypophysis cerebri with an embryological and histological account of a hitherto undescribed part of the organ. Int Monatschr Anat U Physiol 30:258–293
von Mihalkovics V (1875) Wirbelsaite und hirnanhang. Arch F Mikr Anat 11:389
Waterston D (1927) The development of the hypophysis cerebri in man with a note upon its structure in the human adult. Trans R Soc Edinb 55:125
Yamada H, Haratake J, Narasaki T, Oda T (1995) Embryonal craniopharyngioma. Case report of the morphogenesis of a craniopharyngioma. Cancer 75(12):2971–2977
Acknowledgements
The authors thank John Shea, M.D., for reviewing the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Prabhu, V.C., Brown, H.G. The pathogenesis of craniopharyngiomas. Childs Nerv Syst 21, 622–627 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-005-1190-9
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-005-1190-9