Differential diagnosis of suprasellar tumors in children

Klin Padiatr. 2004 Nov-Dec;216(6):323-30. doi: 10.1055/s-2004-832358.

Abstract

In contrary to the adult age the most common suprasellar tumors in children are with decreasing frequency craniopharyngiomas, chiasmatic/hypothalamic low-grade gliomas, germinomas and lesions attributable to a Langerhans cell histiocytosis. For differential diagnostic purposes also the rare hypothalamic hamartoma and meningeal metastases in the infundibular recess of the third ventricle are included. The typical aspects of the various tumors on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) together with important clinical differences are illustrated. On the basis of imaging results and clinical symptoms differential diagnosis between the various tumor entities should be feasible in many cases. Of course, only in strictly defined cases like typical chiasmatic/hypothalamic and optic pathway gliomas or bilocular germ cell tumors a histological confirmation is dispensable.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Brain Diseases / diagnosis
  • Brain Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary
  • Child
  • Craniopharyngioma / diagnosis
  • Craniopharyngioma / diagnostic imaging
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Ependyma
  • Female
  • Germinoma / diagnosis
  • Germinoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Glioma / diagnosis
  • Glioma / diagnostic imaging
  • Hamartoma / diagnosis
  • Hamartoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Hypothalamus
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pineal Gland
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed