TY - JOUR AU - Andereggen, Lukas AU - Hess, Benjamin AU - Andres, Robert H. AU - El-Koussy, Marwan AU - Mariani, Luigi AU - Raabe, Andreas AU - Seiler, Rolf W. AU - Christ, Emanuel PY - 2018/02/07 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - A ten-year follow-up study of treatment outcome of craniopharyngiomas JF - Swiss Medical Weekly JA - Swiss Med Wkly VL - 148 IS - 0506 SE - Original article DO - 10.4414/smw.2018.14521 UR - https://smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/2445 SP - w14521 AB - <p><strong>PURPOSE</strong> <p>Craniopharyngioma-related hypothalamic obesity is a devastating complication with limited data on whether long-term follow-up should focus on problems other than endocrine deficiencies and weight gain. The primary endpoint was the assessment of predictors of hypothalamic obesity development; the secondary endpoint was the assessment of functional outcome (endocrine deficiencies, visual acuity) at long-term follow-up.</p> <strong>METHODS</strong> <p>This retrospective case-note study examined craniopharyngioma patients with at least 2 years of follow-up. Clinical, radiological and biochemical characteristics were assessed at diagnosis, postoperatively, and at last follow-up.</p> <strong>RESULTS</strong> <p>Thirty-two patients met the inclusion criteria. Median follow-up period was 9.8 years (range 2.2–33 years). Longitudinal changes in body mass index (BMI) were substantial (median ΔBMI/year was +0.48 kg/m<sup>2</sup>/year, interquartile range 0.28–1.33). The prevalence of patients with hypothalamic obesity had significantly increased at last follow-up (45 vs 4%; p = 0.003). Long-term pituitary deficiencies remained high. Diabetes insipidus was common (66% vs 34%, p&lt;0.001), with postoperative diabetes insipidus but not hypothalamic involvement, being an independent predictor for hypothalamic obesity (odds ratio 15.2, 95% confidence interval 1.3–174.8, p = 0.03). Osteodensitometry in two thirds of patients at last follow-up revealed a pathological bone density in 53% of those tested.</p> <strong>CONCLUSIONS</strong> <p>Rates of hypothalamic obesity and long-term pituitary deficiencies are substantial, with postoperative diabetes insipidus being a potential marker for hypothalamic obesity development. Besides long-term monitoring of endocrine deficiencies with consideration of osteodensitometry, early weight control programmes and continuing multidisciplinary care are mandatory in craniopharyngioma patients.</p></p> ER -