January - March 2010, Volume 6, Issue 1

Haba D, Dumitrescu G, Indrei A, Mogos V, Grigoras M, Foia L, Mihaila D, Varna A, Poeata I

Radiologic-pathologic correlations in an early recurrent dysplasic squamo-papillary craniopharyngioma

Acta Endo (Buc) 2010, 6 (1): 111-122
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2010.111

Craniopharyngioma is part of a spectrum of suprasellar cystic neoplasms, with two distinct clinicopathological entities: most are adamantinomatous tumors occurring more\r\noften in children and young adults, and radiographically are calcified, while papillary form develops more often in adults, lacks calcification, and have a better outcome.\r\nIn this report we describe clinical, CT and MRI features, together with histopathological findings of an early recurrent papillary craniopharyngioma. Reviewing the\r\nCT and MRI findings and microscopic specimens of both the initial and the recurred craniopharyngioma, we identified the rapid relapse of the solid tumoral component and\r\ncorrelate it with low-grade basal cell dysplasia of the epithelial component that evolves from small patchy foci to more extensive areas in length and width. While low-grade basal cell dysplasia is not clearly malignant, once the pathologist sees these cellular changes in a papillary cranyopharyngioma, he must note them in his report as basal cell dysplasia could be the cause of an early tumoral recurrence. Although low-grade basal cell dysplasia in\r\nsquamo-papillary craniopharyngioma is uncommon, when such a diagnosis is established, the radiologist must pay attention to MRI characteristic findings of the solid part (maximum diameters, enhancing aspects, shape, and location) and compare them with those from the previous data.

Keywords: squamo-papillary craniopharyngioma, MRI, CT, MIB-1, diabetes\r\ninsipidus

Correspondence: Danisia Haba MD, PhD, Department of General and Dental Radiology, "Gr. T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ateneului Street nr. 2, Iasi, Romania 70309, Tel 0040-721696133, Email: dhaba@hotmail.com