Clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with craniopharyngioma followed up at a tertiary Endocrine Unit in Sri Lanka; Cross-Sectional study.
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INTRODUCTION: There are limited data available on clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with cranio-pharyngioma from the South-Asian region. OBJECTIVES: To identify the characteristics, management options received and outcomes of patients with craniopharyngioma in a tertiary care endocrine unit. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey of survivors was conducted at the Endocrine Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka from January 2021 to August 2022. All consenting patients with craniopharyngioma attending the outpatient clinic were recruited consecutively. Socio-demographic data and clinical information were obtained using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and referring to patients' clinical notes. RESULTS: Forty-six participants (males-31) were recruited. The median age at the presentation was 20 years (range 3-66 years). The median age at the follow-up was 36 years (range 13-75 years) with a median follow-up duration of 8 years (range 1-36 years). At presentation, visual impairment, hydrocephalus, headache, vomiting, diabetes insipidus and seizures were observed in 31 (67.4%), 30 (65.2%), 15 (32.6%), 14 (30.4%), 14 (30.4%) and 6 (13%) respectively. The mean maximum tumour diameter was 3.17 (±2.1) cm. All underwent tumour resection at least once with 31 having gross total resection, followed by recurrences in 15 (48.4%). Eight received radiotherapy. Post-surgically, panhypopi-tuitarism, weight gain and diabetes insipidus were obser-ved in 20 (43.5%), 22 (47.8%) and 29 (63%) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The male preponderance and younger age of onset in adult-onset patients have been described rarely only. Greater attempts to achieve gross total resection and underutilisation of radiotherapy might be associated with a higher prevalence of co-morbidities and recurrences respectively.