Intracystic interferon-α treatment leads to neurotoxicity in craniopharyngioma: case report

Craniopharyngioma is a benign, cystic suprasellar tumor that can be treated with intracystic chemotherapy. Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has been gaining popularity as an intracystic treatment for craniopharyngioma because of its efficacy and supposed benign neurotoxicity profile. In this case report the authors describe a patient who, while receiving intracystic IFN-alpha, suffered a neurological event, which was believed to be related to drug leakage outside the cyst. This is the first report of a focal neurological deficit potentially attributable to intracystic IFN-alpha therapy, highlighting the fact that IFN-alpha may have neurotoxic effects on the central nervous system. Given this case and the results of a literature review, the authors suggest that a positive leak test is a relative contraindication to intracystic IFN-alpha treatment.