Cardiac risk after craniopharyngioma therapy

Abstract

Although long-term survival after craniopharyngioma treatment is excellent in childhood and early adulthood, sudden deaths in two craniopharyngioma survivors with cardiac findings suggest a need to determine whether treated patients exhibit potential substrates for sudden cardiac death. We present a retrospective review of two index patients with cardiac mortality. This motivated a prospective cardiac screening of 12 survivors that identified nearly a third with significant QTc prolongation. QTc-prolonging medication and stimulants should be used with caution in this population, and routine electrocardiogram screening may identify those at highest risk.