Brain, Adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma

Details
Disease Category
Gender
Age
22wk fetus
Organ System/Discipline
Diagnosis
Adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma
Clinical History

Termination of pregnancy of male fetus at 22 weeks’ gestational age due to intracranial mass detected on prenatal ultrasound.

Case Discussion

Adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas are benign tumours of the sellar/suprasellar region occurring in children and middle-aged adults classified as WHO grade I. Exceptionally, fetal or neonatal presentations occur. Microscopically, adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas are characterized by irregularly arranged squamous epithelium bordered by a palisade of columnar epithelium; loosely cohesive aggregates of squamous cells known as stellate reticulum; and nodules of “wet keratin” consisting of anuclear squamous cells. It is associated with CTNNB1 (beta-catenin) mutations. Although benign, prognosis is dependent on size and extent of surgical resection; in congenital cases, tumours are usually large and carry a poor prognosis.

Image Contributors
Gao, A., Shannon, P.

Cite

Gao, A., Shannon, P. Brain, Adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma. Digital Laboratory Medicine Library, Dept of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto. Published . Accessed December 17, 2025. https://dev.dlml.cflabs.ca/image/brain-adamantinomatous-craniopharyngioma-lmp36172