Objective To compare the efficacy and complications of the extend endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) and open transcranial approach for resection of craniopharyngiomas. Methods The clinical data from 46 patients with craniopharyngiomas with extend EEA and 54 patients with transcranial route in our department was analyzed retrospectively. The gross total resection (GTR) rate,length of hospital stays and complications of the two groups were compared. Results The tumor diameters of were larger in the endoscopic group than in the transcranial group (3.5 ± 1.3cm vs. 3.0±0.8 cm, P<0.05). The endoscopic group had a greater GTR rate (67.4％vs. 46.3％, P<0.05)and improved visual outcome(84.2％ vs. 59.5％,P<0.05),but lower rate of hypopituitarism (56.5％ vs. 75.9％,P<0.05)and permanent diabetes insipidus (51.4％ vs.72.7％,P<0.05). On the contrast, the endoscopic group had a greater rate of cerebrospinal fluid leak(4.3％ vs. 0.0％,P>0.05)and longer hospital stays(17.0±3.6 d vs. 13.1±2.3 d,P<0.01). Hyposmia(34.8％)and hemorrhinia (2.2％)only happened in the endoscopic group. Conclusion Compared with transcranial route, the extend EEA for craniopharyngiomas is minimal invasion and effective, which can effectively improve the GTR rate and reduce the clinical symptoms.