OBJECTIVE:

Craniopharyngiomas (CPs) in adults are rare benign epithelial tumors, and few contemporary studies have explored outcomes after surgical treatment in elderly patients, especially with regard to endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES).

METHODS:

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients aged ≥ 18 years with CP who were treated with EES from 2013 to 2022. The cohort was divided into nonelderly (18-64 years) and elderly (≥ 65 years) groups based on age. Various parameters, including patient and tumor characteristics, surgical outcomes, complications, and follow-up, were compared between the two age groups.

RESULTS:

A total of 193 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 161 (83.4%) patients in the nonelderly group and 32 (16.6%) patients in the elderly group. Preoperatively, older patients were more likely to have memory impairment (4.3% vs 18.8%, p = 0.010), fatigue or decreased energy (9.3% vs 34.4%, p = 0.001), hypopituitarism (68.7% vs 90.6%, p = 0.012), or hydrocephalus (18% vs 40.6%, p = 0.005), and they were more likely asymptomatic (1.2% vs 9.4%, p = 0.033) and less likely to experience headache (57.8% vs 31.3%, p = 0.006). Patients in the elderly group had a longer symptom duration (median [IQR] 5 [10] months vs 9.5 [13] months, p = 0.001) and higher comorbidity scores (p < 0.001). Postoperatively, gross-total resection was achieved in 145 (90.1%) and 28 (87.5%) patients in the nonelderly and elderly groups, respectively. Older patients were more likely to develop pneumonia (5% vs 21.9%, p = 0.004). There were no significant differences in the extent of resection (p = 0.541), pathological subtypes (88.2% vs 75.0% adamantinomatous, p = 0.089), operation time (mean ± SD 307.8 ± 68.3 minutes vs 323.5 ± 86.0 minutes, p = 0.257), estimated blood loss (median [IQR] 300 [200] ml vs 300 [238] ml, p = 0.594), length of stay (median [IQR] 15 [8] days vs 15 [22] days, p = 0.964), perioperative mortality (2.5% vs 3.1%, p > 0.99), or postoperative severe hypothalamic dysfunction (37.9% vs 50.0%, p = 0.237) between the groups. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that tumor calcification (HR 3.406, 95% CI 1.859-27.233, p = 0.038) and preoperative hydrocephalus (HR 3.688, 95% CI 1.310-10.386, p = 0.013) were independently associated with decreased survival. The median follow-up period in the elderly group was shorter (71 months vs 44 months, p = 0.001), and no recurrence was observed (7.1% vs 0%, p = 0.132).

CONCLUSIONS:

This study demonstrates that EES is a viable treatment option for older CP patients. With appropriate perioperative management, EES does not significantly increase mortality and, in selected populations, is well tolerated by patients.