Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery: stone-in-the-pond effect.

THE TRANSSPHENOIDAL MIDLINE route represents the standard approach to the pituitary and sellar area and is used for more than 95% of surgical indications in this region. It is the least traumatic route to the sella turcica, it avoids brain retraction, and it provides excellent visualization of the pituitary gland and lesions related to that structure. The technique has essentially replaced craniotomy and has been used by every pituitary neurosurgeon, representing the "gold standard" of the transsphenoidal approach to the sellar region for more than 30 years. The introduction of endoscopic techniques has produced a "stone-in-the-pond" effect, influencing the relatively peaceful neurosurgical environment. The brilliant increased vision of the surgical target offered by the endoscope can allow more effective removal of the lesion, followed by superior clinical results and a reduction in the incidence of complications. Endoscopy contributes to better and more contemporary knowledge of the possibilities of the transsphenoidal approach, thus increasing the extended approaches, not only for the pituitary area. Whether or not the transsphenoidal approach should be performed with the use of the microscope or the endoscope is finally discussed.