Description
The specimen shows a circumscribed tumour mass some 4 cm across in the mid area of the brain
in relation to the third ventricle. The white dotted areas are islands of calcification. The histology
of the lesion is that of a craniopharyngioma. These are uncommon tumours, believed to originate
in the craniopharyngeal canal which is considered to be a vestige of the hypophyseal recess.
These tumours enlarge slowly; most patients are in the second or third decade of life when
symptoms first appear. The manifestations are those of pituitary dysfunction.