Stereotaxic Treatment of Craniopharyngiomas

The modern adjuncts of improved anaesthesia, endocrine supervision and therapy and also of microsurgery have reduced the risks confined to radical surgery in craniopharyngiomas. Nevertheless, the overall operative mortality reported in recent papers approximates 15%. In addition, many of the survivors are reported as more or less disabled. Against this background the need for improved methods of treatment is obvious. By means of stereotaxis these lesions can be punctured for biopsies, decompression of cysts and intracavitary radionuclide treatment.