Conditions Treated

Craniopharyngiomas and Rathke's Cleft Cysts

These are cystic lesions that grow out of embryologic remnants that were misplaced during the formation of the pituitary gland. While the craniopharyngiomas is considered a tumor and thus grows from the division of cells, the rathke’s cleft cyst is not a tumor and grows as fluid collects inside. Both can grow and push on adjacent structures such as the optic nerves, carotid arteries or cranial nerves.

The treatment of choice for both craniopharyngiomas and rathke’s cleft cysts is surgical removal. Using the endoscopic, endonasal approach, we can now remove and drain these lesions without opening up the skull or cutting into the face. Since the chance of recurrence for craniopharygiomas is based on the amount of tumors that remains behind after surgery, using the improved visualization provided by the endoscope, the recurrence rate can be minimized. However, large craniopharyngiomas may not be completely removable with the endonasal, endoscopic technique.

Craniopharyngiomas
Pre-operative

Craniopharyngiomas

Craniopharyngiomas
Post-operative

Craniopharyngiomas

Rathke's Cleft Cysts
Pre-operative

Rathke Cleft Cyst

Rathke's Cleft Cysts
Post-operative

Rathke Cleft Cyst
Craniopharyngioma

Craniopharyngioma

Craniopharyngioma

Craniopharyngioma

Craniopharyngioma

Craniopharyngioma

Recurrent Craniopharyngioma

Recurrent Craniopharyngioma

Pediatric Craniopharyngioma

Pediatric Craniopharyngioma

Recurrent Rathke Cleft Cyst

Recurrent Rathke Cleft Cyst

Craniopharyngioma Publications

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Endoscopic extended transsphenoidal resection of craniopharyngiomas: nuances of neurosurgical technique

Andrew R. Conger M.D., M.S., Joshua Lucas M.D., Gabriel Zada M.D., Theodore H. Schwartz M.D., and Aaron A. Cohen-Gadol M.D., M.Sc.

JNS logo

Preserve or sacrifice the stalk? Endocrinological outcomes, extent of resection, and recurrence rates following endoscopic endonasal resection of craniopharyngiomas

Edgar G. Ordóñez-Rubiano, MD, Jonathan A. Forbes, MD, Peter F. Morgenstern, MD, Leopold Arko, MD, Georgiana A. Dobri, MD, Jeffrey P. Greenfield, MD, PhD, Mark M. Souweidane, MD, Apostolos John Tsiouris, MD, Vijay K. Anand, MD, Ashutosh Kacker, MD, BS, and Theodore H. Schwartz, MD

Radiation therapy rather than prior surgery reduces extent of resection during endonasal endoscopic reoperation for craniopharyngioma

Iyan Younus, Jonathan A. Forbes, Edgar G. Ordóñez-Rubiano, Rafael Avendano-Pradel, Emanuele La Corte, Vijay K. Anand & Theodore H. Schwartz

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Endonasal endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of intrinsic third ventricular craniopharyngioma: surgical results

Jonathan A. Forbes MD1, Edgar G. Ordóñez-Rubiano MD, Hilarie C. Tomasiewicz MD, PhD, Matei A. Banu MD, Iyan Younus BS, Georgiana A. Dobri MD, C. Douglas Phillips MD, Ashutosh Kacker MD, Babacar Cisse MD, PhD, Vijay K. Anand MD, and Theodore H. Schwartz MD

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Endonasal endoscopic reoperation for residual or recurrent craniopharyngiomas

Sivashanmugam Dhandapani MCh, Harminder Singh MD, Hazem M. Negm MD, Salomon Cohen MD, Mark M. Souweidane MD, Jeffrey P. Greenfield MD, PhD, Vijay K. Anand MD, and Theodore H. Schwartz MD

neurosurgical focus

Endoscopic endonasal versus open transcranial resection of craniopharyngiomas: a case-matched single-institution analysis

Nelson Moussazadeh MD, Vishaal Prabhu BS, Evan D. Bander MD, Ryan C. Cusic MD, Apostolos John Tsiouris MD, Vijay K. Anand MD, and Theodore H. Schwartz MD

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Do craniopharyngioma molecular signatures correlate with clinical characteristics?

Sacit Bulent Omay MD, Yu-Ning Chen MD, Joao Paulo Almeida MD, Armando Saul Ruiz-Treviño MD, John A. Boockvar MD, Philip E. Stieg MD, PhD, Jeffrey P. Greenfield MD, PhD, Mark M. Souweidane MD, Ashutosh Kacker MD, David J. Pisapia MD, Vijay K. Anand MD, and Theodore H. Schwartz MD

Rathke Cleft Cyst Publications

Skull Base

Endonasal Endoscopic Fenestration of Rathke's Cleft Cysts: Whether to Leave the Fenestration Open or Closed?

Leopold Arko IV, Jonathan C.M. Lee, Saniya Godil, Samuel Z. Hanz, Vijay K. Anand, Theodore H. Schwartz