scholarly journals Surgical outcomes of the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for large and giant pituitary adenomas: institutional experience with special attention to approach-related complications

2016 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 388-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edson Rocha Constantino ◽  
Rafael Leal ◽  
Christian Cândido Ferreira ◽  
Marcus André Acioly ◽  
José Alberto Landeiro

ABSTRACT Objective In this study, we investigate our institutional experience of patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for treatment of large and giant pituitary adenomas emphasizing the surgical results and approach-related complications. Method The authors reviewed 28 consecutive patients who underwent surgery between March, 2010 and March, 2014. Results The mean preoperative tumor diameter was 4.6 cm. Gross-total resection was achieved in 14.3%, near-total in 10.7%, subtotal in 39.3%, and partial in 35.7%. Nine patients experienced improvement in visual acuity, while one patient worsened. The most common complications were transient diabetes insipidus (53%), new pituitary deficit (35.7%), endonasal adhesions (21.4%), and cerebrospinal fluid leak (17.8%). Surgical mortality was 7.1%. Conclusions Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery is a valuable treatment option for large or giant pituitary adenomas, which results in high rates of surgical decompression of cerebrovascular structures.

2014 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle Juraschka ◽  
Osaama H. Khan ◽  
Bruno L. Godoy ◽  
Eric Monsalves ◽  
Alexandra Kilian ◽  
...  

Object While the use of endoscopic approaches has become increasingly accepted in the resection of pituitary adenomas, limited evidence exists regarding the success of this technique for patients with large and giant pituitary adenomas. This study reviews the outcomes of a large cohort of patients with large and giant pituitary adenomas who underwent endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery at the authors' institution and focuses on identifying factors that can predict extent of resection and hence aid in developing guidelines and indications for the use of endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery versus open craniotomy approaches to large and giant pituitary adenomas. Methods The authors reviewed 487 patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal resection of sellar masses. From this group, 73 consecutive patients with large and giant pituitary adenomas (defined as maximum diameter ≥ 3 cm and tumor volume ≥ 10 cm3) who underwent endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery between January 1, 2006, and June 6, 2012, were included in the study. Clinical presentation, radiological studies, laboratory investigations, tumor pathology data, clinical outcomes, extent of resection measured by volumetric analysis, and complications were analyzed. Results The mean preoperative tumor diameter in this series was 4.1 cm and the volume was 18 cm3. The average resection rate was 82.9%, corresponding with a mean residual volume of 3 cm3. Gross-total resection was achieved in 16 patients (24%), near-total in 11 (17%), subtotal in 24 (36%), and partial in 15 (23%). Seventy-three percent of patients experienced improvement in visual acuity, while 24% were unchanged. Visual fields were improved in 61.8% and unchanged in 5.5%. Overall, 27 patients (37%) experienced a total of 32 complications. The most common complications were sinusitis (14%) and CSF leak (10%). Six patients underwent subsequent radiation therapy because of aggressive tumor histopathology. No deaths occurred in this cohort of patients. Statistically significant predictors of extent of resection included highest Knosp grade (p = 0.001), preoperative tumor volume (p = 0.025), preoperative maximum tumor diameter (p = 0.002), hemorrhagic component (p = 0.027), posterior extension (p = 0.001), and sphenoid sinus invasion (p = 0.005). Conclusions Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery is an effective treatment method for patients with large and giant pituitary adenomas, which results in high (> 80%) rates of resection and improvement in visual function. It is not associated with high rates of major complications and is safe when performed by experienced surgeons. The preoperative Knosp grade, tumor volume, tumor diameter, hemorrhagic components on MRI, posterior extension, and sphenoid sinus invasion may allow a prediction of extent of resection and in these patients a staged operation may be required to maximize extent of resection.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico de Divitiis ◽  
Luigi Maria Cavallo ◽  
Paolo Cappabianca ◽  
Felice Esposito

Abstract OBJECTIVE The widespread use of the endoscope in transsphenoidal pituitary surgery has recently contributed to the extension of the approach beyond the tuberculum sellae and planum sphenoidale for the management of lesions located in the suprasellar area, either with an endoscope-assisted or purely endoscopic technique. Based on our previous experience with more than 450 standard endoscopic transsphenoidal operations, we have retrospectively evaluated the effectiveness of the extended endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach in the management of lesions mainly located in the suprasellar area. METHODS Between January 2004 and December 2005, 20 consecutive patients underwent extended endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery for a total of 21 procedures. The series consisted of seven pituitary adenomas, seven craniopharyngiomas, three suprasellar Rathke's cleft cysts, two tuberculum sellae meningiomas, and one pilocytic astrocytoma of the chiasm. RESULTS Tumor removal, as assessed by postoperative magnetic resonance imaging, revealed complete removal of the lesion in four out of seven pituitary adenomas, five out of seven craniopharyngiomas, three out of three Rathke's cleft cysts, and two out of two tuberculum sellae meningiomas. One patient (5%) with craniopharyngioma had a postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak that required reoperation. The same patient experienced a sphenoid mycosis, which was treated with medical therapy. Some specific conditions associated with the anatomy of the surgical route, as well as to the morphology of the lesion, have resulted to condition the feasibility of the approach. CONCLUSION Small and medium sized suprasellar lesions located in the midline, with or without a limited parasellar extension and without involvement of vascular structures, seem amenable to be resected through such extended endoscopic transsphenoidal approach. Improvements in closure techniques and the use of new materials and surgical glues seem to significantly reduce the postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak rate and meningitis.


2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 649-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malik Zaben ◽  
Mohsin Zafar ◽  
Shafqat Bukhari ◽  
Paul Leach ◽  
Charoline Hayhurst

Abstract BACKGROUND: Sella and suprasellar tumors are increasingly managed via an endoscopic transsphenoidal approach, but infant endoscopic surgery has not been reported. Pituitary blastoma is a rare sellar malignant tumor that primarily occurs in infants and is managed by surgical resection (cytoreduction) followed by adjuvant therapy. OBJECTIVE: To describe the technique and feasibility of resection of a pituitary blastoma via endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach in an 18-month-old infant. METHODS: Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for resection of a pituitary malignant tumor in an infant. RESULTS: Near-total tumor resection was achieved. The skull base was reconstructed by using a nasoseptal flap with no cerebrospinal fluid leak or any other intraoperative complications. The postoperative course was uneventful. One-year follow-up showed complete resolution of the tumor. CONCLUSION: The endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach with nasoseptal flap reconstruction could be used as a safe, yet minimally invasive and innovative technique for the resection of pituitary blastoma in infants.


2011 ◽  
Vol 114 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatore Di Maio ◽  
Luigi M. Cavallo ◽  
Felice Esposito ◽  
Vita Stagno ◽  
Olga Valeria Corriero ◽  
...  

Object Whereas most pituitary adenomas are removable via the transsphenoidal approach, certain cases, such as dumbbell-shaped or suprasellar adenomas and recurrent and/or fibrous tumors, remain difficult to treat. The authors present their experience with the extended endoscopic endonasal approach to the suprasellar area in managing this subset of tumors, which are classically treated through a transcranial route. Methods From June 1997 to December 2008, 615 patients underwent endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II. Of this group, 20 patients with pituitary adenomas needed an extended endoscopic endonasal transtuberculum/transplanum approach for tumor removal. Two surgical corridors were used during the transsphenoidal approach: 1) the conventional endosellar extraarachnoidal corridor and 2) a suprasellar transarachnoidal corridor. Results The extent of resection was gross total in 12 (60%) of the 20 patients, near total in 4 (20%), subtotal in 3 (15%), and partial in 1 (5%). Postoperative CSF leakage occurred in 1 patient. One patient experienced worsening of temporal hemianopsia. Conclusions The authors' initial results with the extended endoscopic approach to the suprasellar area for selected pituitary adenomas are promising and may justify a widening of the current classical indications for transsphenoidal surgery.


2019 ◽  
Vol 132 ◽  
pp. e802-e811
Author(s):  
Nahid Fallah ◽  
Mohammad Taghvaei ◽  
Shokufeh Sadaghiani ◽  
Seyed Mousa Sadrhosseini ◽  
Fatemeh Esfahanian ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 59 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. ONS-75-ONS-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio Frank ◽  
Ernesto Pasquini ◽  
Francesco Doglietto ◽  
Diego Mazzatenta ◽  
Vittorio Sciarretta ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVE: The endoscope has recently been applied to the supradiaphragmatic transsphenoidal approach, but only case reports dealing with different pathological features have been described. The authors present their experience with this technique in 10 patients with craniopharyngiomas. METHODS: A pure endoscopic endonasal technique was used. From November 1998 through May 2005, four males and six females with a craniopharyngioma, either purely supradiaphragmatic (six patients) or with a significant suprasellar component (four patients), were treated. The tumors had a mean diameter of 2.9 cm (range, 1–4 cm); four patients had a major prechiasmatic component and six had a retrochiasmatic one. RESULTS: Seven total, one subtotal, and two partial resections were obtained. Vision symptoms improved significantly in six out of eight patients. Endocrine function did not improve after surgery, and diabetes insipidus was the most frequent deficit, although it was transient in five out of eight patients. Cerebrospinal fluid leak was the most frequent complication and required reoperation in two patients. Postoperative obesity occurred in two patients. No recurrence has yet been documented in the total resection group. The mean follow-up period is 37 months (range, 3–75 mo). CONCLUSION: The endoscopic technique allows results comparable with the best microscopic series. We think that this technique increases the safety of the procedure because of improved vision. Further studies are required to better define the exact location of the tumor with respect to the arachnoidal plane, the extra-arachnoidal craniopharyngioma being the most suitable for a radical removal using a transsphenoidal supradiaphragmatic approach.


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