CraniopharyngiomaSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Craniopharyngioma
View Main Condition: Brain Tumor
A craniopharyngioma is usually a noncancerous (benign) tumor that develops at the base of the brain near the pituitary gland.
Adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma; Ordinary craniopharyngioma; Papillary craniopharyngioma; Rathke pouch tumor; Hypophyseal duct tumor; Adamantinoma
The exact cause of the tumor is unknown.
This tumor most commonly affects children from 5 to 14 years of age. Adults 50 to 74 years can sometimes be affected. Boys and girls are equally likely to develop this tumor.
A craniopharyngioma causes symptoms by:
- Increasing pressure on the brain, usually from hydrocephalus
- Disrupting hormone production by the hypothalamus or pituitary gland
- Pressure or damage to the optic nerve
Increased pressure on the brain can cause:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting (especially in the morning)
- Change in appetite and weight
- Confusion and drowsiness
Damage to the pituitary gland causes hormone imbalances that can lead to excessive thirst and urination, and slow growth.
When the optic nerve is damaged by the tumor, vision problems develop. These defects are often permanent. They may get worse after surgery to remove the tumor.
Behavioral and learning problems may be present.
The goal of the treatment is to relieve symptoms. This tumor is best treated at a center with experience in treating craniopharyngiomas.
Usually, surgery has been the main treatment for craniopharyngioma. However, radiation treatment instead of surgery or along with a smaller surgery may be the best choice for some people.
In tumors that cannot be removed completely with surgery alone, radiation therapy is used. If the tumor has a classic appearance on a CT scan, a biopsy may not be needed if treatment with radiation alone is planned. In some people, a shunt may be placed to treat the hydrocephalus.
Stereotactic radiosurgery is performed at some medical centers.
Hormonal replacement, short-term or long-term, might be needed.
UPMC Neurological Institute - Presbyterian
Dr. Gardner is the Peter J. Jannetta Endowed Chair of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and director of the Center for Skull Base Surgery. He specializes in endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery, pituitary tumors, Neuroendoport brain surgery, and vascular neurosurgery. Dr. Gardner is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Craniopharyngioma. He is also highly rated in 61 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Chordoma, Pituitary Tumor, Meningioma, Nerve Decompression, and Endoscopic Transnasal Transsphenoidal Surgery. Dr. Gardner is board certified in American Board Of Neurological Surgery. Dr. Gardner is currently accepting new patients.
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Varun Kshettry is a Neurosurgery provider practicing medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. He has been practicing medicine for over 22 years. Dr. Kshettry is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Craniopharyngioma. He is also highly rated in 49 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Meningioma, Pituitary Tumor, Craniopharyngioma, Endoscopic Transnasal Transsphenoidal Surgery, and Balloon Sinuplasty. Dr. Kshettry is board certified in American Board Of Neurological Surgery, 2020.
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Pablo Recinos is a Neurosurgery provider practicing medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. He has been practicing medicine for over 25 years. Dr. Recinos is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Craniopharyngioma. He is also highly rated in 51 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Meningioma, Pituitary Tumor, Cushing's disease, Endoscopic Transnasal Transsphenoidal Surgery, and Balloon Sinuplasty. Dr. Recinos is board certified in American Board Of Neurological Surgery, 2018.
In general, the outlook is good. There is an 80% to 90% chance of a cure at 10 years if the tumor can be completely removed with surgery or treated with high doses of radiation. If the tumor returns, it will most often come back within the first 2 years after surgery. Follow-up includes yearly MRIs and hormonal testing.
The outlook depends on several factors, including:
- Whether the tumor can be completely removed
- Which nervous system problems and hormonal imbalances the tumor and treatment cause
Most of the problems with hormones and vision do not improve with treatment. Sometimes, the treatment may even make them worse.
There may be long-term hormone, vision, and nervous system problems after craniopharyngioma is treated. The hormonal complications include diabetes insipidus, which causes excessive thirst and urination. This can be temporary or permanent.
When the tumor is not completely removed, it may return and cause additional symptoms.
Other complications include:
- Hypothalamic obesity and metabolic issues
- Cognitive and behavioral changes
- Seizures
- Vascular complications such as stroke
Contact your provider for the following symptoms:
- Headache, confusion, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, or balance problems (signs of increased pressure on the brain)
- Failing to keep up in school
- Weight loss or gain
- Increased thirst and urination
- Poor growth in a child
- Vision changes
Summary: There is a variety of tumors affecting the pituitary gland in childhood; some of these tumors (eg craniopharyngioma) are included among the most common central nervous system tumors in childhood. The gene(s) involved in the pathogenesis of these tumors are largely not known; their possible association with other developmental defects or inheritance pattern(s) has not been investigated. The present...
Summary: The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if FOG-001 is safe and effective in participants with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors.
Published Date: April 13, 2026
Published By: Luc Jasmin, MD, Ph.D., FRCS (C), FACS, Department of Neuroscience, Guam Regional Medical City, Guam; Department of Surgery, Johnson City Medical Center, TN; Department of Maxillofacial Surgery at UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Kayadjanian N, Hsu EA. Treatment priorities in craniopharyngioma: Perspectives of survivors and caregivers. Biomedicines. 2026;14(3):664. PMID: 41898310 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41898310/.
Pitteloud N, Papadakis GE, Jacobs AN. Physiology and disorders of puberty. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Rosen CJ, Kopp PA, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 23.
Suh JH, Chao ST, Murphy ES, Kshettry VR, Recinos PF. Pituitary tumors and craniopharyngiomas. In: Foote RL, Michalski JM, Viswanathan AN, Tepper JE, eds. Gunderson & Tepper's Clinical Radiation Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 36.
Zaky W. Central nervous system tumors in childhood. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 546.