Efficacy of Endoscopic Surgery Management of Craniopharyngiomas in Terms of Tumor Control and Postoperative Morbidity

Abstract Background Craniopharyngiomas represent a surgical challenge with resection via either a transcranial or a transnasal approach using microscopy or endoscopy. The selection criteria of the classic transsphenoidal route for the management of craniopharyngiomas were postulated >30 years ago and still are valid today. Aim of the Work to systematically review the literature published discussing the endoscopic management of craniopharyngioma as regard tumor control, symptomatic relief and post-operative morbidity. Materials and Methods This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed in accordance to the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Meta-analyses Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) statements. PRISMA and MOOSE are reporting checklists for Authors, Editors, and Reviewers of Meta-analyses of interventional and observational studies. According to International committee of medical journal association (ICJME), reviewers must report their findings according to each of the items listed in those checklists. Results and Conclusion The extended EEA for suprasellarcraniopharyngiomas avoids brain retraction, permits early exposure of the lesion, provides good visualization of the pituitary gland and stalk and the main vascular structures, and minimizes manipulation of the optic apparatus. The endoscopic technique, both standard and extended approaches, can be considered as a possible surgical treatment for craniopharyngiomas in the modern neurosurgical techniques.