放射治疗用于仅接受手术活检或肿瘤未完全切除的患者。[31]Weiss M, Sutton L, Marcial V, et al. The role of radiation therapy in the management of childhood craniopharyngioma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1989;17:1313-1321.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2689398?tool=bestpractice.com[32]Habrand JL, Ganry O, Couanet D, et al. The role of radiation therapy in the management of craniopharyngioma: a 25-year experience and review of the literature. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1999;44:255-263.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10760417?tool=bestpractice.com[33]Varlotto JM, Flickinger JC, Kondziolka D, et al. External beam irradiation of craniopharyngioma: long-term analysis of tumor control and morbidity. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2002;54:492-499.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12243827?tool=bestpractice.com[30]Clark AJ, Cage TA, Aranda D, et al. A systematic review of the results of surgery and radiotherapy on tumor control for pediatric craniopharyngioma. Childs Nerv Syst. 2013;29:231-238.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23089933?tool=bestpractice.com
放射治疗方法的选择(传统或分割外照射或立体定向)取决于肿瘤的大小及其与周围神经结构的解剖学关系,尤其是与视交叉的关系。
传统的分割外照射放疗(光子为基础)标准治疗为中位肿瘤剂量 54 Gy,每日放疗,持续 5-6 周。[32]Habrand JL, Ganry O, Couanet D, et al. The role of radiation therapy in the management of craniopharyngioma: a 25-year experience and review of the literature. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1999;44:255-263.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10760417?tool=bestpractice.com[33]Varlotto JM, Flickinger JC, Kondziolka D, et al. External beam irradiation of craniopharyngioma: long-term analysis of tumor control and morbidity. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2002;54:492-499.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12243827?tool=bestpractice.com
立体定向放射治疗(伽马刀、射波刀或直线加速器)用于较小的 (<2 cm)、距离视交叉较远的残余肿瘤。[32]Habrand JL, Ganry O, Couanet D, et al. The role of radiation therapy in the management of craniopharyngioma: a 25-year experience and review of the literature. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1999;44:255-263.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10760417?tool=bestpractice.com[34]Niranjan A, Kano H, Mathieu D, et al. Radiosurgery for craniopharyngioma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2010;78:64-71.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20005637?tool=bestpractice.com[35]Chung WY, Pan DH, Shiau CY, et al. Gamma knife radiosurgery for craniopharyngiomas. J Neurosurg. 2000;93(suppl 3):47-56.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11143262?tool=bestpractice.com[36]Scarzello G, Buzzaccarini MS, Perilongo G, et al. Acute and late morbidity after limited resection and focal radiation therapy in craniopharyngiomas. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2006 Apr;19 Suppl 1:399-405.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16700317?tool=bestpractice.com[37]Minniti G, Saran F, Traish D, et al. Fractionated stereotactic conformal radiotherapy following conservative surgery in the control of craniopharyngiomas. Radiother Oncol. 2007;82:90-95.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17161483?tool=bestpractice.com
分割放射治疗可用于邻近视觉器官的肿瘤。
尽管一些临床医师认为手术全切与不完全切除后放疗相比,其长期预后相当,但是长期随访的数据更加支持手术全切除肿瘤。