Malignant craniopharyngioma; case report and review of the literature

Neuropathology. 2009 Oct;29(5):591-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1789.2008.00986.x. Epub 2008 Dec 3.

Abstract

A case of malignant craniopharyngioma in a 46-year-old woman presenting clinically with visual disturbance and bifrontal headache is reported. Histopathologic examination of the suprasellar mass showed a lesion characterized by nests of epithelial cells with a basaloid appearance, round-to-oval nuclei, moderate pleomorphism, hyperchromasia, increased nuclear cytoplastic ratio and high mitotic activity. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for Ki-67 (44.3%), p53 (98%), and p63 (100%), but negative for estrogen and progesterone receptors. Clinical and pathologic features with a brief review of the relevant literature for malignant craniopharyngioma as a novel member of tumors of the suprasellar region, is discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Craniopharyngioma / diagnosis
  • Craniopharyngioma / metabolism
  • Craniopharyngioma / pathology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Ki-67 Antigen / metabolism
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Receptors, Progesterone / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism

Substances

  • CKAP4 protein, human
  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53