Surgery through the top of the brain removed a large deep tumor
Original title: Transcallosal approach for a giant third ventricle craniopharyngioma: illustrative case.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
This is a report on a single patient, not a study in many people.
The short version
Doctors planned the safest route first, then removed a large deep brain tumor.
What was studied. This is a case report about a single patient. A 22-year-old woman had a very large craniopharyngioma, a tumor deep in the brain. It caused headache, vision loss, and memory trouble, and it blocked the flow of brain fluid. The team used 3D computer planning to compare four possible surgical paths.
What they found. The team picked a route through the top of the brain, between the two halves. They chose it because the tumor had widened a natural opening and shifted nearby brain tissue. The whole tumor was removed. Her vision and memory got much better, and she went back to work.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: For a deep tumor like this, 3D planning may help a surgeon pick the safest route. In some cases, the whole tumor can come out and vision and memory can improve. If you face this kind of surgery, you can ask your team how they plan the approach.
What it doesn't mean: This is one person's story, not a study of many people. It does not tell us how often this surgery works this well, or how often it goes wrong. What helped her may not help someone else. It is not a cure for brain tumors. Talk with your own care team about your case.
Source: PubMed, October 1, 2026 · Read the original
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