How does the craniopharyngioma cause symptoms?
These tumors cause symptoms in three major ways. Some children will initially have difficulties with hormonal functions, since these tumors grow in or above the pituitary gland and because the pituitary gland regulates virtually all of the hormones in the body, including growth rate and the functions of the thyroid, adrenal, steroid, and sex glands. Perhaps the most common manifestation of this hormone effect is a fall-off in a normal growth rate due to a lack of growth hormone. A second form of clinical symptom is related to increased pressure within the brain. These tumors can grow up into the base of the brain, obstructing the chambers in the brain (“ventricles”) through which the fluid in the brain (“CSF”) circulates. This obstruction results in headache, nausea, and vomiting – all symptoms of the fluid and pressure building up inside the brain, a condition called hydrocephalus. A third, and unfortunately fairly common presentation of these tumors is a loss of vision. Because child
