Craniopharyngioma originates from the flat epithelial cells remaining during the embryogenesis of the pituitary gland. It is a common congenital benign intracranial tumor, mostly located above the sella turcica, and a few are located inside the sella turcica. There are many synonyms for craniopharyngioma, which are related to the starting site and growth, such as suprasellar cyst, cranioclavicular sac tumor, pituitary duct tumor, ameloblastoma, epithelial cyst, and adamantoma. Craniopharyngioma often occurs in children and adolescents. Its main clinical features include hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction, increased intracranial pressure, visual and visual field disorders, diabetes insipidus, and neurological and psychiatric symptoms. CT scan can confirm the diagnosis. The main treatment is surgical removal of the tumor. At the end of the 19th century, some pathologists noticed a rare type of epithelial tumor growing in the sella turcica region, and believed that this type of tumor may originate from the pituitary duct or cranioclavicular sac. In 1904, Erdheim described the histological characteristics of the tumor in detail and believed that the tumor may come from the embryonic flat epithelial cells of the pituitary-pharyngeal duct that have not fully degenerated. Later, people found that the growth of craniopharyngioma is along the path of the craniocerebral pouch from the pharynx to the sella turcica, the sella turcica, the sella turcica and the anterior end of the third ventricle. Some people noticed the difference between adult and pediatric craniopharyngioma and believed that adult tumors are not embryonic in origin, but are the result of postnatal tissue transformation of pituitary cells because of the presence of flat epithelial cells in the pituitary gland. However, there is still a lack of evidence for this explanation. In 1910, Lewis first tried to remove this type of tumor. After 1918, the name craniopharyngioma began to be commonly used.