Post-operative hypothalamic lesions and obesity in childhood craniopharyngioma

Craniopharyngioma represents 1.2 – 4% of all childhood intracranial tumours. Despite high survival rates, the quality of life (QoL) is frequently impaired by adverse effects caused by the craniopharyngioma, most notably severe hypothalamic obesity, which has a major negative impact on QoL in long-term survivors.

Müller et al. and the study committee of KRANIOPHARYNGEOM 2000 conducted the first prospective, multinational trial on childhood craniopharyngioma during 2001 and 2007 by prospectively recruiting 120 patients and evaluating them after a follow-up of 3 years. They analysed the impact of tumour localisation, neurosurgical treatment strategies and extent of post-operative lesions on changes in QoL, and body mass index as a measure of obesity.

The results show that radical neurosurgical strategies leading to posterior hypothalamic lesions are not to be recommended due to the potential to exacerbate hypothalamic obesity and impaired QoL and recommend that treatment should be confined to experienced multidisciplinary teams. Müller et al. (2011) European Journal of Endocrinology 165 17-24.

Read the full article at DOI: 10.1530/EJE-11-0158.