Surgical Strategy for Craniopharyngiomas based on Anatomical Classification

Abstract

  Even with the wealth of recent advances in surgical equipment and techniques, the surgical excision of craniopharyngiomas remains challenging due to their anatomical location and proximity to critical neurovascular structures. Although various surgical approaches to remove craniopharyngiomas have been described, including the pterional, orbitopterional, orbitozygomatic, transbasal subfrontal, frontobasal interhemispheric, and transnasal transsphenoidal, designating the optimal surgical approach remains controversial. In this article, we presented our sub-classification of craniopharynigiomas based on the anatomical location of the tumor. In addition, the most appropriate surgical approach to the lesion is discussed for these anatomical sub-classifications.