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Malignant transformation of craniopharyngioma: case report and review of the literature

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Abstract

Craniopharyngioma is considered to be a benign intracranial tumor. Malignant transformation of craniopharyngioma has rarely been described. In this article, we report a case of ameloblastic carcinoma arising from a previously benign craniopharyngioma in a 42-year-old woman. The patient was diagnosed with craniopharyngioma in August 2004 and underwent surgical resection of a typical craniopharyngioma, the pathological result was craniopharyngioma, papillary and adamantinomatous types. During the subsequent 5 years, this patient experienced two recurrences, for which surgical resections were performed without radiotherapy. The last two pathologic diagnoses were malignant craniopharyngiomas and there was more apparent sign of malignancy in the third pathologic section. The exact pathogenesis and the biological behavior of malignant change in craniopharyngioma are not yet clear. We review the relevant literature of malignant craniopharyngioma. Histopathologic, clinical and imaging features of malignant craniopharyngioma and the possible effect of radiotherapy on the carcinogenesis are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Fu Xing Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, People’s Republic of China

    Shuzi Gao, Xiangen Shi & Chengyin Liu

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Sanbo Brain Hospital, Beijing, 100093, People’s Republic of China

    Xiangen Shi & Hai Qian

  3. Department of Pathology, Beijing Sanbo Brain Hospital, Beijing, 100093, People’s Republic of China

    Yanxia Wang

Authors
  1. Shuzi Gao
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  2. Xiangen Shi
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  3. Yanxia Wang
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  4. Hai Qian
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  5. Chengyin Liu
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Correspondence to Xiangen Shi.

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Gao, S., Shi, X., Wang, Y. et al. Malignant transformation of craniopharyngioma: case report and review of the literature. J Neurooncol 103, 719–725 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-010-0407-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-010-0407-2

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