Outcome after pediatric craniopharyngioma: the role of age at diagnosis and hypothalamic damage
Authors' conclusion
Diagnosis of CP at age <6 years may help patients to adapt early to disabilities but may lead to a higher probability of CP relapse. Not age at diagnosis but posterior HL may be the contributing factor to severe obesity and a reduced QoL.
Study context
- Population
- Pediatric patients diagnosed with craniopharyngioma, recruited 1999 to 2021
- Participants
- 709 patients
- Exposure
- Age at diagnosis categories; age <6 vs ≥6 years
- Outcome
- Overall and EFS, functional capacity (FMH) and QoL (PEDQOL)
Methodological detailsmulticentre registry-based (HIT-Endo, KRANIOPHARYNGEOM 2000/2007/Registry 2019)
- Multicentre registry-based (HIT-Endo, KRANIOPHARYNGEOM 2000/2007/Registry 2019)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Outcome by age at diagnosis
- Lower event-free survival (EFS) but better quality of life (QoL) with age at diagnosis <6 years vs ≥6 years
- Age at diagnosis did not contribute to severe obesity and reduced QoL
- Reduced functional capacity percentiles associated with age at diagnosis <2 years
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Severe obesity (BMI >3 SDS) at last visit
- Prevalence of severe obesity
- 45.4%
Functional capacity percentiles vs BMI-SDS at last visit
- Correlation of reduced functional capacity with increased BMI-SDS, rho
- −0.125 (95% CI −0.21; −0.04)
Posterior hypothalamic involvement and hypothalamic lesion (HL) as independent risk factors for reduced EFS
- HR for reduced EFS
- 1.59 (95% CI 1.12-2.26)
Posterior hypothalamic involvement and HL as independent risk factors for obesity at last visit
- OR for obesity
- 2.94 (95% CI 1.73-5.08)
Original publication
Outcome after pediatric craniopharyngioma: the role of age at diagnosis and hypothalamic damage. Eur J Endocrinol. Published 28 February 2023. doi:10.
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