Pure endoscopic endonasal removal of unusual anterior skull base aneursymal bone cyst extending to the frontal lobe.

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are benign, nonneoplastic, hemorrhagic, and expansile osseous lesions that present most frequently at age younger than 20 years. Aneurysmal bone cysts typically involve long bones of extremities, thorax, pelvis, or spinal column. Skull base involvement is very rare. The authors report the case of a 23-year-old woman with ABC of the skull base and total removal of lesion with pure endoscopic endonasal approach. The patient had presented with nasal obstruction for 6 months. Physical and neurological examination findings were normal except for bilateral anosmia. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a tumor occupying ethmoid sinuses anterior skull base that extended into bilateral frontal lobes. The patient underwent pure endoscopic endonasal surgery, and the tumor was resected gross-totally. Histologic examination revealed ABC. Consequently, ABC should be considered in differential diagnosis of skull base pathologies. Endoscopic endonasal surgical approach is a safe, minimally invasive, and effective way in the treatment of these tumors.

Pure Endoscopic Endonasal Clipping of an Incidental Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm.

Anterior communicating artery (AcoA) aneurysm is the most common form of intracranial aneurysm. It occurs rarely together with other intracranial lesion. Today, microsurgical techniques and endovascular methods are used in the treatment of these aneurysms. Endoscopic endonasal approach is a useful technique for midline lesions of the skull base and is underpinned with extensive experience. In this article, we present a 72-year-old female patient who underwent endoscopic endonasal transplanum-transtubercular surgery for tuberculum sellae meningioma followed by clipping of the incidental AcoA aneurysm. After complete removal of a tuberculum sellae meningioma via an endoscopic endonasal approach, an anterior and superior projected saccular AcoA aneurysm in the gyrus rectus area was totally clipped successfully via pure endoscopic endonasal transplanum-transtubercular approach, without any damage to parent arteries. The patient was discharged from the hospital within a short period of time without any postoperative complication. Endoscopic endonasal approach is a new paradigm in the treatment of aneurysm. Although this technique cannot be routinely used due to lack of experience, it is an effective and safe method in selected and anatomically appropriate cases. We believe that increased knowledge and experience will create successful results in this approach, and it can offer an alternative method for selected aneurysm cases.

Endoscopic endonasal optic nerve decompression in a patient with pseudotumor cerebri.

Pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension) is a syndrome characterized by intracranial pressure elevation and associated signs and symptoms in the absence of a space-occupying intracranial lesion. The most common symptoms are visual loss and headache. Sometimes, surgical therapy is needed in patients who have no apparent response to medical therapy and exhibit a progressive course. Optic nerve decompression is an effective and recommended treatment approach for patients with pseudotumor cerebri in whom visual loss predominates. With the growing experience with endoscopic skull base approaches, this method has begun to be used as an alternative and effective treatment modality. In this study, we aimed to present the outcome of endoscopic endonasal optic nerve decompression and to review the literature on this treatment modality in 2 patients diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri that was unresponsive to medical therapy and associated with progressive visual loss.

Endoscopic endonasal treatment of a large clival giant cell tumor invading the cavernous sinus and temporal lobe.

Giant cell tumors (GCTs) are extremely rare lesions, representing less than 5% of all bone tumors. They primarily occur in the long bones. However, a small percentage of these tumors occur in the pelvis, spine, or skull bones. These lesions are usually benign as well as locally aggressive and require complete removal. Nowadays, GCT and other skull base lesions can be treated using the extended endoscopic endonasal approach. We present a case report of a GCT located in the skull base, originating from the clivus and sphenoid bone, invading through the cavernous sinus, and treated using the fully endoscopic endonasal approach.

Massive Skull Base Ameloblastic Carcinoma with Intracranial Extension.

Ameloblastic carcinoma (AC) is a rare and aggressive malignant epithelial odontogenic tumor that may arise either from the mandible (66.6%) or the maxilla (33.3%). Besides being formed de novo, the tumor can develop from a pre-existing ameloblastoma or odontogenic cyst. The clinical course of AC is typically aggressive with extensive local destruction. AC has also been reported to spread to various parts of the body through lymphatic system. Skull base location and intracranial extension of this tumor are uncommon. In this case report we present the clinical course, management and follow up of an uncommonly large AC that destructed the anterior skull base and extended into the intracranial space.

Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas Are Really Clinically Nonfunctioning? Clinical and Endocrinological Symptoms and Outcomes with Endoscopic Endonasal Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas are the most common pituitary adenomas in adults and cause significant morbidity unless adequately treated. METHODS: This study retrospectively assessed the medical records of 160 patients operated via pure endonasal endoscopy. The presenting symptoms, results of neurologic and visual examinations, levels of pituitary hormones, results of radiologic examinations, size of the adenoma, rates of resection, results of postoperative visual examination, and pituitary hormone levels at follow-up were recorded to establish the appropriate approach, operative criteria, and outcomes of patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma. RESULTS: Headache was the presenting symptom in 87.5% of the patients. Thirty-three percent had visual loss, and visual examinations on the whole study population revealed a visual field defect in 47.5% of the patients. Only 16.25% of the patients presented with endocrinological symptoms; 52.5% had abnormal anterior pituitary hormone levels. Regarding adenoma size, 56 patients had macroadenoma (35%), 84 (52.5%) had mesoadenoma, and 20 patients had giant adenoma. Gross total resection was achieved in 90% of the patients; subtotal resection was achieved in the remainder. The rate of total resection was lower for giant adenomas and recurrences. Visual symptoms and anterior pituitary hormone levels improved in 27 and 42 patients, respectively, after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas present frequently as mesoademonas and giant adenomas. Patients with these tumors may have subclinical visual or hormonal deficits at the time of diagnosis. Early and effective surgical treatment is essential for rapid recovery of visual and/or hormonal deficits, particularly in symptomatic cases.

Biochemical and histopathological effects of catechin on experimental peripheral nerve injuries.

AIM: Catechin is a type of polyphenol, along with epicatechin, epigallocatechin, and epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG). This study aims to investigate the effect of EGCG, a major metabolite of catechin, which is the principle bioactive compound in green tea, on rats with peripheral nerve injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 74 rats were divided into six groups, namely the control, the trauma, the normal saline, a 25mg/kg EGCG, a 50mg/kg EGCG and a daily consumption group (10mg/kg EGCG was given intraperitoneally for 14 days before the trauma). Except the first group, the other groups underwent a 1-minute sciatic nerve compression by clip with 50gr/cm2 pressure. Nerve samples were obtained at 28 day after trauma for the biochemical and histopathological analysis. RESULTS: Our study showed that the Daily consumption, 25mg/kg EGCG and 50mg/kg EGCG groups demonstrated statistically significant decreased lipid peroxidation levels and particularly daily consumption, and the 25mg/kg EGCG group showed a favourable reduction of degeneration and edema histologically. CONCLUSION: This study shows that Catechin and its derivatives have a protective effect on peripheral nerve injury.

Endoscopic endonasal repair of spontaneous sphenoid sinus lateral wall meningocele presenting with cerebrospinal fluid leak.

Spontaneous sphenoid sinus lateral wall meningoceles are rare lesions with an unknown etiology. Endoscopic endonasal technique is a considerable route in the treatment of this condition. The aim of this paper is to report the etiology, surgical technique, and outcome in a patient repaired via endoscopic endonasal approach. A 51-year-old male patient applied with rhinorrhea started three months ago after an upper respiratory infection. There were no history of trauma or sinus operation. Biochemical analysis of the fluid was positive for beta-2-transferrin. This asypthomatic patient had undergone for repairment of lateral sphenoid sinus meningocele with endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach. After endoscopic endonasal meningocele closure procedure no complications occured and a quick recovery was observed. Endoscopic endonasal approach is an effective and safe treatment modality of spontaneous lateral sphenoid sinus meningoceles and efficient in anterior skull base reconstruction.

A difficult Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy procedure: perforation of a thick Liliequist membrane with high basilar artery location.

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV) is a minimally invasive and safe method used in the treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus. However, arterial bleeding episodes that arise from narrowing of the safe perforation area due to a higher location of the basilar artery (BA) may have tragic consequences. Liliequist membrane (LM) or other membranous structures located in the prepontine cistern also affect the success rates with ETV and complicate the procedure. We present herein a safe and successful perforation of the thick LM after retracting BA in a triventricular hydrocephalus case having a high BA protruding into the third ventricle. ETV is an effective and minimally invasive treatment modality in selected cases. Although some case-specific factors may affect the procedural success and feasibility, favorable and safe outcomes are certainly achievable by overcoming these obstacles with increasing experience.

Primary non-necrotizing granulomatous hypophysitis mimicking pituitary adenomas.

AIM: The authors review their experience in the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal treatment of 5 patients, finally diagnosed as primary hypophysitis but initially assumed to be pituitary adenomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was undertaken to review 5 cases of primary non-necrotizing granulomatous hypophysitis (1.61%) through 310 endoscopic transsphenoidally operated cases with the diagnosis of pituitary adenoma between 2009 and 2013. All 5 cases were female without any background of autoimmunity or recent pregnancy. The initial presumptive diagnosis was pituitary adenoma for all patients. The endocrinological diagnoses of the patients were suspected Cushing's Disease, anterior pituitary deficiency with hyponatremia, hyperprolactinemia, and acromegaly. One of the patients had normal hormonal levels. All patients had macroadenomas including one invasive adenoma with skull base involvement. One of the patients (20%) had visual field defects. All patients underwent endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (EETS). RESULTS: All patients had improvement of hormonal levels postoperatively except the one with anterior pituitary deficiency who required long term hormone replacement after the surgery. Mean follow-up duration was 14.8 months. CONCLUSION: Primary granulomatous hypophysitis without any known etiological factors is very rare in the literature. It can mimic pituitary adenomas in radiological and endocrinological aspects. EETS is an effective and safe treatment especially for visual and compression symptoms.

Endoscopic endonasal removal of a sphenoidal sinus foreign body extending into the intracranial space.

Sphenoidal sinus foreign bodies are very rare entities that are often associated with a cranial and/or orbital trauma. In this paper, a case of a metallic foreign body that pierced the sphenoid sinus and penetrated into the intracranial space due to a work accident is presented. A 29-year-old male was referred to our clinic due to a right orbital penetrating trauma. Skull X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scans demonstrated a foreign body inside the sphenoidal sinus, extending to the left temporal fossa. The foreign body was removed using an endoscopic endonasal technique, and the skull base was reconstructed with a multilayer closure technique. There were no complications during or after the operation. Postoperative result was perfect after three months of follow up.

Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal treatment for acromegaly: 2010 consensus criteria for remission and predictors of outcomes.

AIM: Acromegaly is a chronic disorder characterized by enhanced growth hormone (GH) secretion and elevated insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels, usually caused by pituitary adenomas. In this retrospective study, we reviewed our experience with endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (EETS) with in remission rates using the 2010 consensus criteria, predictors of remission and associated complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed data from 56 acromegalic patients who underwent pure EETS. Tumors were classified according to size and suprasellar/parasellar extension. The criteria of remission were GH levels < 1 ng/mL randomly, < 0.4 ng/mL after oral glucose tolerance test and normal IGF-I levels for age and sex within the first 3 and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: Biochemical remission was achieved in 4 of 5 microadenomas (80%) and in 33 of 51 macroadenomas (64.7%). The total remission rate was 66.1% (37 of 56 adenomas). Age, gender and suprasellar extension did not affect the remission rate. However, cavernous sinus invasion, sphenoid sinus invasion and history of prior surgery were associated with lower rates of disease control. CONCLUSION: EETS represents an effective and safe option for the treatment of patients with acromegaly. High disease control rates and a small number of complications are some of the most important points related to the technique.

Unusual posttraumatic delayed cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea due to gunshot wound.

Delayed posttraumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea (CSFr) without meningitis is considered to be relatively rare. However, even years after trauma, recurrence or delayed onset of CSFr and meningitis due to CSFr are possible. In this article, a case of delayed CSFr from the sphenoid sinus without meningitis three years after the transfacial gunshot wound is reported. Plain high-resolution computed tomography sections through the sphenoid sinus showed a bone defect at the roof with CSF-density fluid extending into the sphenoid sinus. Arachnoid membrane herniation into the sphenoid sinus was found and site of CSF fistula confirmed during the surgery. Skull base defect was reconstructed through an endoscopic approach without any complications and the patient was followed up for 12 months without recurrence. The cause, timing, clinical course and location of CSFr make this an apparently unique case. Patients with a skull base defect without CSFr should be closely followed up and may need further evaluation or management due to the possibility of CSFr development. The positive diagnosis of a CSFr raises the matter of choosing the adequate surgical approach for its repair. Endoscopic closure of CSFr is both safe and effective.

Incidence, hormonal distribution and postoperative follow up of atypical pituitary adenomas.

AIM: To assess the incidence, hormonal activity and postoperative follow up of the cases that are histopathologically diagnosed as atypical pituitary adenoma (APA) in our series. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, 13 atypical pituitary adenoma cases, by the WHO 2004 criteria, among the 146 pituitary adenoma patients operated on in our clinic between January 2009 and May 2012 by endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach were included. RESULTS: In histological studies, 133 cases were diagnosed as typical pituitary adenoma (91.1%) and 13 cases were APAs (8.9%) of which 10 were male (76.9%) and 3 were female (23.1%), ranged between 27 and 80 (mean 52.7) ages. Histopathological distribution of APAs was 9 nonsecretory adenomas (69.3%), 3 prolactinomas (23.1%) and 1 somatostatinoma (7.6%). Asymptomatic pituitary apoplexy was diagnosed in 4 cases (30.7%). Eleven cases of typical pituitary adenomas (8.2%) and 5 cases of the atypical pituitary adenomas (38.4%) were re-operated due to tumor recurrences. CONCLUSION: Accurate histopathological examination shows that atypical pituitary adenoma is not a rare disease. Although it is not the only determinant, APAs are more prone to recurrence than typical adenomas. In our opinion, if total resection is not possible for the patients with APA, close postoperative follow up and additional curative therapy modalities are needed.

Using an autologous fibrin sealant in the preventing of cerebrospinal fluid leak with large skull base defect following endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery.

AIM: Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak following endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (EETS) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This prospective study is the first evaluation of using autologous fibrin sealant for preventing postoperative CSF leak and related complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 200 endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approaches were included in the study and reviewed retrospectively from September 2010 to June 2012. A total of 55 patients who have large skull base and diafragma sella defects, connected with basal cisterns or ventricles, were chosen for the study. The patients were operated via extended or classical endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach. The skull base has been repaired using AFS combined with multilayer reconstruction in all cases. The incidence of CSF leak as a complication of EETS was analyzed. RESULTS: The ages of the patients ranged from 20 to 83 years (mean 49.3 years). There were 25 (46%) male patients and 30 (54%) females. All patients had tumors with suprasellar or parasellar extension. Postoperative CSF leak was determined in 2 patients (3.6%). There were no complications and allergic reactions associated with the use of AFS. CONCLUSION: Using of AFS combined with multilayer reconstruction technique is a safe and effective method to prevent CSF leak in large defects following EETS.