Thomas E. Merchant, DO, PhD, a faculty member and chair of the Radiation Oncology Department, Baddia J. Rashid Endowed Chair in Radiation Oncology, and Chairman of Radiation Oncology Discipline in the Children's Oncology Group at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, discusses the importance of continued care in pediatric patients with craniopharyngioma.

Patients who are diagnosed with craniopharyngioma at a young age are faced with significant challenges regarding their continuation of care as they transition to adulthood, says Merchant. For example, most pediatric patients with craniopharyngioma have panhypopituitarism, which can lead to growth, thyroid, adrenal, and sex hormone deficiencies, Merchant explains. Many of these patients also develop diabetes insipidus, Merchant adds. 

As a result, these patients have to remain on hormone replacements after they transition to adult care, says Merchant. Moreover, adherence to medications when patients are in college or living alone or whether they no longer have access to insurance can present with new challenges that could have significant consequences on their health, Merchant explains. As such, ensuring that patients are monitored during the transition to adult care is critical, Merchant concludes. 

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Thomas E. Merchant, DO, PhD, discusses the importance of continued care in pediatric patients with craniopharyngioma.  



Dr. Merchant on the Importance of Continued Care in Pediatric Craniopharyngioma 

Thomas E. Merchant, DO, PhD, a faculty member and chair of the Radiation Oncology Department, Baddia J. Rashid Endowed Chair in Radiation Oncology, and Chairman of Radiation Oncology Discipline in the Children's Oncology Group at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, discusses the incidence of craniopharyngioma.

The primary treatments approaches that are used in patients with craniopharyngioma include surgery and radiation, and chemotherapy is also utilized, Merchant says. Because no agents have specifically been approved for use in the treatment of this disease, in part due to its rarity, Merchant adds.

When examining incidence rates from the annual Central Brain Registry of the United States, approximately 100 cases of craniopharyngioma are reported each year in patients under the age of 15 years; approximately 125 cases per year are observed if the age group is expanded to those between 18 and 21 years, according to Merchant. This is a rare tumor type, with most cancer institutions only seeing 1 or 2 cases every year, Merchant concludes.

Thomas E. Merchant, DO, PhD, discusses the incidence of craniopharyngioma.



Thomas E. Merchant, DO, PhD

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Dr. Merchant on the Importance of Continued Care in Pediatric Craniopharyngioma

Dr. Merchant on Incidence of Craniopharyngioma