A patient with a craniopharyngioma is at risk for sudden death if certain complications occur.
Causes of sudden death may include:
(1) acute obstructive hydrocephaluswith acute cerebral edema
(2) atherosclerotic heart disease (secondary to hyperphagic hypothalamic obesity)
(3) QTc prolongation and/or cardiac arrhythmia
Premorbid presentations may include:
(1) acute onset of abnormal behavior (disinhibition, psychosis, other)
(2) signs of increased intracranial pressure (headache)
(3) morbid obesity
(4) syncope
It is important to exclude other causes of death.
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Specialty: Clinical Laboratory
