Ciliated craniopharyngioma indicates histogenetic relationship to Rathke cleft epithelium.

Abstract

A case of ciliated craniopharyngioma is reported. The patient was a 36-year-old man who suffered from visual disturbance, and he was revealed to have a tumor in the suprasellar region by CT scan. At operation, the tumor was a solid mass accompanied by multiple small cysts. Histologically, the tumor consisted of papillary type of craniopharyngioma in which foci of ciliated columnar epithelial cells were observed. Electron microscopy revealed ciliated epithelium with scattered goblet cells. This uncommon type of craniopharyngioma seems to offer a clue to understand the histogenesis of craniopharyngioma.