A benign (non-cancerous) tumor that grows near the base of the brain, usually originating from remnant embryonic tissue in the skull.
From craniopharyngeal + -oma (Greek -oma, tumor). Named for its location at the craniopharyngeal area, described clinically in the 19th century.
Craniopharyngiomas are fascinating because they grow from evolutionary leftover tissue—a reminder that human embryos develop through ancient patterns, and sometimes that ancient wiring causes modern problems.
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