Abstract:Abstract:ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnosis, surgical effect and prognosis of ectopic craniopharygioma so as to avoid misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.MethodsClinical data (including clinical manifestations, imageological examination, surgical method and prognosis) of 3 patients with ectopic craniopharygioma surgically treated in our department from were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsThe tumor was located in sphenoid sinus and infratemporal fossa in one patient and treated with two endonasal endoscopic surgeries and one auxiliary radiotherapy. The patient died of systemic multiple organ failure due to tumor malignant transformation in 22 months after treatment. The lesion location was posterior naris and soft palate in the second patient, and postoperative followup for 18 months revealed no recurrence. The lesion location was infratemporal fossa in the last case, and postoperative followup for 3 years showed no recurrence.ConclusionEctopic craniopharygioma is very rare and its diagnosis mainly depends on pathology and immunohistochemistry. Surgical treatment should be the preferred method. Whether radiotherapy should be administered is still up for debate.