Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for sellar tumors beyond the sellar turcica.

CONCLUSIONS

The endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach can be a choice for sellar tumors beyond the sellar turcica, but it is necessary to make the choice carefully because of the severe surgical risks.

OBJECTIVES

To summarize our experience of removal of sellar tumors beyond the sellar turcica via the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach and to evaluate the surgical efficacy and complications.

METHODS

Between January 2007 and January 2012, 30 patients with sellar tumors beyond the sellar turcica underwent surgery using the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach.

RESULTS

Postoperative pathological examination demonstrated that pituitary adenoma occurred in 22 patients, craniopharyngioma in 5, and meningioma in 3. Total removal was achieved in 21 patients (70.0%) and subtotal removal was achieved in 8 patients (26.7%). After the surgery, cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 3 patients, temporary diabetes insipidus occurred in 25 patients and persistent diabetes insipidus in 4 patients, intracranial infection occurred in 1 patient, frontal subdural effusion occurred in 1 patient, sinusitis occurred in 2 patients, epistaxis occurred in 3 patients, and 1 patient with a huge pituitary adenoma died of hypothalamic failure related to the operation.