Is there medical treatment for a craniopharyngioma?
No, there are no medicines to treat this type of tumor. Most patients do have to take hormone replacement because of damage to the normal pituitary gland. Surgery is the first choice. Some patients also require radiation treatment. The answer to this question about pituitary tumors was developed by Mary Lee Vance, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Neurosurgery at the University of Virginia. Dr. Vance is an endocrinologist specializing in the treatment of pituitary diseases.
No, there are no medicines to treat this type of tumor. Most patients require hormone replacement(s) because of damage to the normal pituitary gland. Surgery is the first choice because radiation treatment does not cause an immediate decrease in tumor size. A craniopharyngioma may be large and invade brain tissue and because of this, removal of as much as possible is often necessary. Some patients also require radiation treatment if there is remaining tumor after surgery; radiation treatment is used to prevent growth of any remaining tumor.
No, there are no medicines to treat this type of tumor. Most patients require hormone replacement(s) because of damage to the normal pituitary gland by the tumor. Surgery is the first choice because radiation treatment does not cause an immediate decrease in tumor size. A craniopharyngioma may be large and invade brain tissue and because of this, removal of as much as possible is necessary. Some patients also require radiation treatment if there is remaining tumor after surgery; radiation treatment is used to prevent growth of any remaining tumor.
