Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39751704›Full record

SynthesisJournal of neuro-oncology2025

Radiation therapy for childhood-onset craniopharyngioma: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yuqi Miao, Di Wu, Yu Li, Yangmingyue Ji, Yanmei Sang

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of neuro-oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. A systematic review of long-term outcomes (>10-year follow-up) of paediatric craniopharyngioma.Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Yuqi MiaoDepartment of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Beijing Children's Hospital, National Center for Children's Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100045, China.
Di WuDepartment of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Beijing Children's Hospital, National Center for Children's Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100045, China.
Yu LiDepartment of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Beijing Children's Hospital, National Center for Children's Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100045, China.
Yangmingyue JiDepartment of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Beijing Children's Hospital, National Center for Children's Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100045, China.
Yanmei SangDepartment of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Beijing Children's Hospital, National Center for Children's Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100045, China. sangym_doc@126.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCraniopharyngioma (CP), a benign tumor originating from remnants of Rathke's pouch in the sellar region, accounts for approximately 30% of all cases of craniopharyngioma. Radiation therapy has been used to treat CP patients for decades; however, there is still a lack of systematic reviews on the long-term tumor control outcomes in pediatric CP patients treated with external radiation therapy.

methodsWe conducted a comprehensive search of multiple databases for studies on the tumor progression rates of childhood-onset CP(COCP) patients who received external radiotherapy. We also recorded morbidities related to hypopituitarism and vasculopathy. A meta-analysis was performed to calculate the pooled incidence rates. Meta-regression was applied to explore potential sources of heterogeneity in the tumor progression rates.

resultsA total of 22 studies were included after screening and eligibility assessment in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The median (mean) follow-up period ranged from 2 to 14.9 years. The pooled overall tumor progression rate was 0.10 (95% CI 0.07-0.15). The recurrence rates were 0.14 (95% CI 0.09-0.19) for photon therapy and 0.04 (95% CI 0.01-0.07) for proton therapy. Meta-regression indicated that none of the following underlying risk factors significantly affected the heterogeneity of the recurrence rate: radiation modality (photon vs. proton), median (mean) follow-up duration, or the proportion of patients who did not undergo surgical resection. The pooled incidence of growth hormone deficiency (GHD), thyroid hormone deficiency (THD), adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency (ACTHD), gonadotropin-releasing hormone deficiency (GnRHD), and diabetes insipidus (DI) were 0.81 (95% CI 0.70-0.90), 0.88 (95% CI 0.79-0.95), 0.69 (95% CI 0.52-0.85), 0.43 (95% CI 0.38-0.49), and 0.56 (95% CI 0.33-0.78), respectively. The pooled morbidity rate for vasculopathy was 0.06 (95% CI 0.04-0.09), with similar rates observed for both photon and proton therapy.

conclusionRadiotherapy is a suitable adjuvant or alternative treatment method for childhood CP patients. However, patients inevitably face significant long-term treatment-related complications.

Indexed as

CraniopharyngiomaPituitary NeoplasmsChildHumansCraniopharyngiomaMeta-analysisPediatricRadiotherapy

Identifiers

PMID39751704

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.