Acta neuropathologica
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Acta neuropathologica · Apr 1999
Xanthogranuloma of the sellar region: a clinicopathological entity different from adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma.
Xanthogranulomatous change of craniopharyngioma, consisting of cholesterol clefts, macrophages, chronic inflammatory infiltrates, necrotic debris and hemosiderin deposits, has been traditionally considered a hallmark of the adamantinomatous variant, even in the absence of epithelium. Based on a series of 110 craniopharyngioma patients undergoing primary surgery, we found 37 specimens with a predominating xanthogranulomatous component. ⋯ On the other hand, xanthogranulomatous and adamantinomatous lesions did not differ with respect to sex, amount of cystic components, or the intraoperative aspect, considered by the neurosurgeon as being typical for craniopharyngioma in all cases. We suggest that xanthogranuloma (cholesterol granuloma) of the sellar region is clinically and pathologically distinct from the classical adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma.