Introduction: The treatment of craniopharyngioma remains a challenge for neurosurgeons. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the efficacy and safety of stereotactic injection of interferon (INF-?) by Ommaya capsule in the treatment of cystic craniopharyngioma.
Methods: 92 patients presenting with cystic craniopharyngiomas were treated with intratumoral injection of IFN-a from January 2013 to December 2016 in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy General Hospital. There are 51 males and 41 females and their age ranged from 2 year to 75 years (mean 44.8 years) , with 17 patients under the age of 18. All patients underwent stereotactic Ommya reservoir implantation. 3,000,000 units of INF-a2b were injected to tumor cysts every two days, and 12 applications (totaling 36,000,000 units) were taken in 24 days. Every 12 times was a course of treatment. The total doses varied from 36 to 108 MU.
Results: Craniopharyngioma tumor control rate was of 75% and the PFS was 23.2 (95% CI: 21.9-27.8) months in interferon intravesicular treatment. PFS was 21.5 (95% CI: 19.5-25.7) in the ACP group and 20.9 (95% CI: 18.9-24.8) in the PCP group. There were no statistical differences between ACP and PCPgroups (P = 0.0731) and between adult and child group. The most common side effects was fever, loss of appetite and weary.
Conclusions: Stereotactic injection of interferon (INF?) by ommya reservoir for the treatment of cystic craniopharyngioma is a safe and reliable method, but we should pay more attention to the side effects of drugs during the treatment. But the multicenter data sharing is imperative for further assessment intratumoral INF-a for treatment of craniopharyngioma.
Patient Care: Stereotactic injection of interferon (INFɑ) for the treatment of cystic craniopharyngioma is a safe and reliable method
Learning Objectives: The treatment of craniopharyngioma