Early outcome in endoscopic extended endonasal approach for removal of supradiaphragmatic craniopharyngiomas: a case series and a comprehensive review.

Background: The choice of endoscopic expanded endonasal approach introduces the possibility of improved gross total resection of craniopharyngioma while minimizing surgical morbidity in a significant subset of patients.

Methods: From our trans-sphenoidal surgical series of 331 cases, we retrospectively reviewed visual, endocrine and neuro-cognitive outcomes in the first consecutive eight patients (median age 63 years; range 47-73 years) with newly diagnosed supradiaphragmatic craniopharyngioma (median tumour height 23 mm; range 15-34 mm), removed by expanded endonasal approach (median follow-up 27 months; range 10-69 months). Gross total resection was attempted in all patients.