Extended transsphenoidal approach with submucosal posterior ethmoidectomy for parasellar tumors

2001 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 999-1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahiko Kitano ◽  
Mamoru Taneda

✓ The authors have developed an extended transsphenoidal approach with submucosal posterior ethmoidectomy for resection of tumors located in the cavernous sinus or the suprasellar region that are difficult to remove via the conventional transsphenoidal approach. Surgery was performed using this approach in 14 patients with large pituitary adenomas, three patients with craniopharyngiomas, and one patient with a meningioma of the tuberculum sellae. The submucosal dissection of the nasal septum used in the conventional transsphenoidal approach was extended to the superior lateral wall of the nasal cavity to expose the bony surface of the superior turbinate lying under the nasal mucosa. Submucosal posterior ethmoidectomy widened the area visualized through the conventional transsphenoidal approach both superiorly and laterally. This provided a safer and less invasive access to lesions in the cavernous sinus or the suprasellar region through the sphenoid sinus. Using this approach the authors encountered no postoperative complications, such as olfactory disturbance, cranial nerve palsy, or arterial injury. In this article the authors present the surgical methods used in this approach.

2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (5) ◽  
pp. 832-841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua R. Dusick ◽  
Felice Esposito ◽  
Daniel F. Kelly ◽  
Pejman Cohan ◽  
Antonio DeSalles ◽  
...  

Object. The extended transsphenoidal approach, which requires a bone and dural opening through the tuberculum sellae and posterior planum sphenoidale, is increasingly used for the treatment of nonadenomatous suprasellar tumors. The authors present their experiences in using the direct endonasal approach in patients with nonadenomatous suprasellar tumors. Methods. Surgery was performed with the aid of an operating microscope and angled endoscopes were used to assess the completeness of resection. Bone and dural defects were repaired using abdominal fat, collagen sponge, titanium mesh, and, in most cases, lumbar drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Twenty-six procedures for tumor removal were performed in 24 patients (ages 9–79 years), including two repeated operations for residual tumor. Gross-total removal could be accomplished in only 46% of patients, with near-gross-total removal or better in 74% of 23 patients (five of eight with craniopharyngiomas, six of seven with meningiomas, five of six with Rathke cleft cysts, and one of two with a dermoid or epidermoid cyst); a patient with a lymphoma only underwent biopsy. Of 13 patients with tumor-related visual loss, 85% improved postoperatively. The complications that occurred included five patients (21%) with postoperative CSF leaks, one patient (4%) with bacterial meningitis; five patients (21%) with new endocrinopathy; and two patients (8%) who needed to undergo repeated operations to downsize suprasellar fat grafts. The only permanent neurological deficit was anosmia in one patient; there were no intracranial vascular injuries. Conclusions. The direct endonasal skull-base approach provides an effective minimally invasive means for resecting or debulking nonadenomatous suprasellar tumors that have traditionally been approached through a sublabial or transcranial route. Procedures in the supraglandular space can be performed effectively with excellent visualization of the optic apparatus while preserving pituitary function in most cases. The major challenge remains developing consistently effective techniques to prevent postoperative CSF leaks.


2000 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 480-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul H. Chapman ◽  
Hugh D. Curtin ◽  
Michael J. Cunningham

✓ The authors describe an unusual meningocele of the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus and the anterior skull base in a young patient with typical stigmata of neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). This lesion was discovered during evaluation for recurrent meningitis. It represented an anterior continuation of Meckel's cave into a large cerebrospinal fluid space within the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus, extending extracranially through an enlarged superior orbital fissure into the pterygopalatine fossa adjacent to the nasal cavity. It was successfully obliterated, via an intradural middle fossa approach, with fat packing and fenestration into the subarachnoid space. This meningocele most likely represents a variant of cranial nerve dural ectasia occasionally seen in individuals with NF1. It has as its basis the same mesodermal defect responsible for the more common sphenoid wing dysplasia and spinal dural ectasias identified with this condition. Involvement of the trigeminal nerve with expansion of the lateral wall of cavernous sinus has not been reported previously. The authors surmise, however, that it may be present in some cases of orbital meningocele associated with sphenoid wing dysplasia.


2010 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bing Zhao ◽  
Yu-Kui Wei ◽  
Gui-Lin Li ◽  
Yong-Ning Li ◽  
Yong Yao ◽  
...  

Object The standard transsphenoidal approach has been successfully used to resect most pituitary adenomas. However, as a result of the limited exposure provided by this procedure, complete surgical removal of pituitary adenomas with parasellar or retrosellar extension remains problematic. By additional bone removal of the cranial base, the extended transsphenoidal approach provides better exposure to the parasellar and clival region compared with the standard approach. The authors describe their surgical experience with the extended transsphenoidal approach to remove pituitary adenomas invading the anterior cranial base, cavernous sinus (CS), and clivus. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed in 126 patients with pituitary adenomas that were surgically treated via the extended transsphenoidal approach between September 1999 and March 2008. There were 55 male and 71 female patients with a mean age of 43.4 years (range 12–75 years). There were 82 cases of macroadenoma and 44 cases of giant adenoma. Results Gross-total resection was achieved in 78 patients (61.9%), subtotal resection in 43 (34.1%), and partial resection in 5 (4%). Postoperative complications included transient cerebrospinal rhinorrhea (7 cases), incomplete cranial nerve palsy (5), panhypopituitarism (5), internal carotid artery injury (2), monocular blindness (2), permanent diabetes insipidus (1), and perforation of the nasal septum (2). No intraoperative or postoperative death was observed. Conclusions The extended transsphenoidal approach provides excellent exposure to pituitary adenomas invading the anterior cranial base, CS, and clivus. This approach enhances the degree of tumor resection and keeps postoperative complications relatively low. However, radical resection of tumors that are firm, highly invasive to the CS, or invading multidirectionally remains a big challenge. This procedure not only allows better visualization of the tumor and the neurovascular structures but also provides significant working space under the microscope, which facilitates intraoperative manipulation. Preoperative imaging studies and new techniques such as the neuronavigation system and the endoscope improve the efficacy and safety of tumor resection.


2007 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 713-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Maria Cavallo ◽  
Andrea Messina ◽  
Felice Esposito ◽  
Oreste de Divitiis ◽  
Mateus Dal Fabbro ◽  
...  

Object The extended transsphenoidal approach to the suprasellar region has the advantages of minimal invasiveness and brain manipulation in the surgical treatment of small to medium lesions. At the same time, however, it carries a higher risk of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and related complications than those for the standard transsphenoidal approach. Effective reconstruction of large skull base defects is a major concern in such extended approaches and remains challenging. Methods Between January 2004 and April 2006, 21 patients affected by different suprasellar lesions underwent the extended endoscopic endonasal transtuberculum-transplanum approach. Three different techniques were used for the skull base reconstructions. In all cases, dehydrated human pericardium (Tutoplast) for dural reconstruction and a copolymer of l-lactic acid and glycolic acid (LactoSorb) as a bone substitute were used. Collagen sponges, fibrin glue, and an inflated Foley balloon catheter were also used to fill the sphenoid sinus cavity. Results Two cases of postoperative CSF leaks (9.5%) and one case of mycotic sinusitis (4.8%) occurred following the intradural (inlay) and intraextradural (inlay-overlay) graft positioning. No cases of postoperative CSF leakage occurred in cases in which the extradural-only reconstruction procedure was applied. No meningitis or other complications related to the closure were noticed. Conclusions The rate of postoperative CSF leakage after an extended approach to the suprasellar area is higher compared with that following standard pituitary surgery. Reconstruction after craniopharyngioma surgery exposes patients to an increased risk of postoperative CSF leaks. The extradural (overlay) technique was found to be the most effective in assuring a watertight closure.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 556-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico de Divitiis ◽  
Felice Esposito ◽  
Paolo Cappabianca ◽  
Luigi M. Cavallo ◽  
Oreste de Divitiis

Abstract OBJECTIVE Tuberculum sellae meningiomas represent 5 to 10% of all intracranial meningiomas. Such lesions are classically removed through a variety of well-standardized transcranial approaches. The extended endonasal transsphenoidal route, under either microscopic or endoscopic visualization, has only recently been proposed as a viable surgical technique for the management of such tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 51 consecutive patients with tuberculum sellae meningiomas were treated at our institution during a 21-year period. Forty-four patients had transcranial surgery, and the last seven were treated via the extended endoscopic transsphenoidal approach. We also compared our data with those reported in the pertinent literature related to the surgical, ophthalmological, and endocrinological outcome. RESULTS The significant difference among the transcranial and transsphenoidal series, both in our experience and in the reviewed literature, did not allow us to draw statistically significant results but rather a reporting of the outcomes. In the transcranial group, 86.4% had a gross total removal of the lesion, whereas the percentage was 83.3% in the transsphenoidal group. Concerning the visual outcome, we experienced postoperative improvement in 61.4% of the transcranial patients and a worsening of 13.6%, whereas improvement was reported in 71.4% of the patients in the transsphenoidal group; in the last group, we did not observe any postoperative worsening. The main drawback of the transsphenoidal approach still remains the difficulty in reconstructing the cranial base dural and bone defects, which expose patients to a greater risk of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage (28.6% in our series) and related complications. CONCLUSION When treating a patient with a diagnosis of tuberculum sellae meningioma, a neurosurgeon should know that, aside from the classical transcranial approach, the possibility of an extended transsphenoidal approach exists. Although it is still not a standardized procedure, in carefully selected cases (i.e., small midline lesions, without major vessel encasement, or parasellar extension) and in experienced hands, it could be considered a viable alternative, especially in overcoming the reconstruction-related problems.


1990 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 513-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuo Hashimoto ◽  
Haruhiko Kikuchi

✓ The authors review their 2-year experience with a rhinoseptal transsphenoidal approach to skull-base tumors of various pathologies involving both the sphenoid and cavernous sinuses. Eight patients with cranial nerve palsies attributable to compression of the contents of the cavernous sinus and/or optic canal are included in this report. Among these patients, a total of 17 cranial nerves were affected. Postoperative normalization was achieved in eight nerves, significant improvement in seven nerves, and no improvement in two nerves. There were no operative complications of aggravation of cranial nerve palsies in this series. In spite of the limited operating field, the results demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of this approach. The authors recommend that this approach be considered before more aggressive surgery is undertaken.


2000 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
pp. 1028-1035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua G. Kouri ◽  
Michael Y. Chen ◽  
Joseph C. Watson ◽  
Edward H. Oldfield

✓ Generally accepted contraindications to using a transsphenoidal approach for resection of tumors that arise in or extend into the suprasellar region include a normal-sized sella turcica, normal pituitary function, and adherence of tumor to vital intracranial structures. Thus, the transsphenoidal approach has traditionally been restricted to the removal of tumors involving the pituitary fossa and, occasionally, to suprasellar extensions of such tumors if the sella is enlarged. However, conventional transcranial approaches to the suprasellar region require significant brain retraction and offer limited visualization of contralateral tumor extension and the interface between the tumor and adjacent structures, such as the hypothalamus, third ventricle, optic apparatus, and major arteries. In this paper the authors describe successful removal of suprasellar tumors by using a modified transsphenoidal approach that circumvents some of the traditional contraindications to transsphenoidal surgery, while avoiding some of the disadvantages of transcranial surgery.Four patients harbored tumors (two craniopharyngiomas and two hemangioblastomas) that arose in the suprasellar region and were located either entirely (three patients) or primarily (one patient) within the suprasellar space. All patients had a normal-sized sella turcica. Preoperatively, three of the four patients had significant endocrinological deficits signifying involvement of the hypothalamus, pituitary stalk, or pituitary gland. Two patients exhibited preoperative visual field defects. For tumor excision, a recently described modification of the traditional transsphenoidal approach was used. Using this modification, one removes the posterior portion of the planum sphenoidale, allowing access to the suprasellar region. Total resection of tumor was achieved (including absence of residual tumor on follow-up imaging) in three of the four patients. In the remaining patient, total removal was not possible because of adherence of tumor to the hypothalamus and midbrain. One postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak occurred. Postoperative endocrinological function was worse than preoperative function in one patient. No other new postoperative endocrinological or neurological deficits were encountered.This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a modified transsphenoidal approach for resection of certain suprasellar, nonpituitary tumors.


QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina M Gerges ◽  
Hatem Sabry ◽  
Hasan Jalalod din ◽  
Mohamed Ashraf Ghobashy ◽  
Theodore H Schwartz

Abstract Background Giant pituitary adenoma represents one of the challenging tumor for neurosurgeons. Many microsurgical approaches in the past were used for its management. Recently and with evolution of the endoscopic equipment and instruments, extended endoscopic transsphenoidal approach become one of the preferable approaches for its surgical excision. Methods We prospectively document the clinical , surgical and follow up data for all patients presented with giant pituitary adenoma to Ain-Shams university hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College, Presbyterian hospital and were surgically treated with extended transsphenoidal approach from 2015 till 2019. Results Our group study formed of 44 patients with mean age 53.03 (range 14.7-82.4) and a male predominance (59%). The main presentation was visual problems in 75% followed by partial hypopituitarism in 31.81% while headache was in 13.64%. Only 4 patients had functioning adenoma (3 prolactinoma and 1 acromegaly). Average tumor volume was 26.95 ± 17.25 cm3, while the mean maximum tumor diameter was 4.73 cm (range 4.0-8.0 cm). Radiographic invasion was found in 97.73% to suprasellar cistern, 61.36% to the cavernous sinus and in 34% to the sphenoid sinus. GTR was achieved in 45.45% with Knosp score is the only significant predictor factor for resection rate (p = 0.04). Visual improvement achieved in 75.76%. 50% (2 patient) of the patients with functioning adenoma were cured. Complications included CSF leak in 3 patients, permanent DI in 4 patients and postoperative hematoma in 2 patients. Recurrence and progression rates without upfront radiation therapy were 5.00 % and 31.81% respectively after mean follow up period 57.90 months. Conclusions Extended endoscopic approaches for achieving maximum resection with minimal morbidity for giant pituitary adenoma are very effective. Lateral tumor extension with cavernous sinus invasion represents the limiting point in achieving gross total resection. Upfront radiation therapy for patients with residual adenoma can be avoided but regular follow up should be warranted.


1992 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 508-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdy El-Kalliny ◽  
Harry van Loveren ◽  
Jeffrey T. Keller ◽  
John M. Tew

✓ The lateral dural wall of the cavernous sinus is composed of two layers, the outer dural layer (dura propria) and the inner membranous layer. Tumors arising from the contents of the lateral dural wall are located between these two layers and are classified as interdural. They are in essence extradural/extracavernous. The inner membranous layer separates these tumors from the venous channels of the cavernous sinus. Preoperative recognition of tumors in this location is critical for selecting an appropriate microsurgical approach. Characteristics displayed by magnetic resonance imaging show an oval-shaped, smooth-bordered mass with medial displacement but not encasement of the cavernous internal carotid artery. Tumors in this location can be resected safely without entering the cavernous sinus proper by using techniques that permit reflection of the dura propria of the lateral wall (methods of Hakuba or Dolenc). During the last 5 years, the authors have identified and treated five patients with interdural cavernous sinus tumors, which included two trigeminal neurinomas arising from the first division of the fifth cranial nerve, two epidermoid tumors, and one malignant melanoma presumed to be primary. The pathoanatomical features that make this group of tumors unique are discussed, as well as the clinical and radiological findings, and selection of the microsurgical approach. A more favorable prognosis for tumor resection and cranial nerve preservation is predicted for interdural tumors when compared with other cavernous sinus tumors.


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