Extended sphenoidotomy combined with transpterygoid approach for sphenoidal sinus inverted papilloma.

PURPOSE: Inverted papilloma of the sphenoid sinus (IPSS) is a rare tumor with debated surgical management due to its proximity to vital structures. The aim of this manuscript is to highlight the role of a transpterygoid approach (TPA) and pedicle-orientated strategy in case of involvement of critical structures in IPSS and compare it with data from the literature. METHODS: Patients with primary IPSS between January 2000 and June 2021 were included. Pre-operative CT/MRI were analyzed to classify the pneumatization of the SS and predict the insertion point of the inverted papilloma. All patients were treated with a trans-sphenoidal approach which was combined with a TPA in case of lateral insertion point. A systematic search was also performed to summarize the available literature. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were treated for IPSS. By CT, the SS was categorized with type III pneumatization in 72.8% of cases. Eleven patients (50%) were treated with a TPA with a statistical association with the insertion point on the SS lateral wall (p = 0.01), rather than a SS pneumatization (p = 0.63). The overall success was 95.5% after a mean follow-up of 35.9 months. For the literature, 26 publications were included on 97 patients and described a trans-sphenoidal approach with a success rate of 84.6% after a mean follow-up of 24.5 months. CONCLUSION: IPSS is generally treated with a sphenoidotomy approach, although in selected cases, a TPA should be preferred to expose the whole SS lateral wall though allowing a complete pedicled oriented resection of the tumor.

Surgical outcome of trans-sphenoidal approach to pituitary adenoma in adult patients: 10 years experience in northwest of Iran.

Background: Pituitary adenoma (PA) is a frequent intracranial lesion, that needs surgical evacuation. In this study, we evaluated the surgical outcome of PA treated via endoscopic and microscopic trans-sphenoidal approach. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we evaluate ten years of PA surgery experience in the northwest of Iran. 721 patients underwent trans sphenoidal surgery of PA. Complication of the surgery, extension of tumors resection, demographic and clinical findings (gender, age, tumor type,..) were reviewed in this study. SPSS version 25 and statistical tests including chi square and T-test were used. P-value ˂0.5 was considered as statistically significant. Results: 483 males (58.9%) and 336 females (41.02%) were included in this study. Mean age of patients was 47.3±1.96 years.The most common initial complaints were deterioration of vision (n=528, 64.4%) and headache (n=343, 41.88%), followed by accelerated development (n=254, 31.01%), amenorrhea and galactorrhea (n=253, 30.8%). 57 (6.95%) patients had symptoms of Cushing's disease. 105 (12.8%) patients had acromegaly. TR was achieved in 87.5% of cases and sub-TR in 103 (12.5%) cases and no patient had a partial or insufficient resection. After surgery, the endocrine function was normalized in 76 (31.7%) patients who had preoperative hyper hormonal levels. 36 (4.3%) patients developed postoperative CSF leakage; of which, 4 (0.48 %) patients did not improve by lumbar drainage and other conservative treatments and needed reoperation for reconstruction of the skull base. Conclusion: The combination of microscopic and endoscopic trans-sphenoidal approach in PA surgery can be lead to total resection of tumors.

Long-term follow-up after endoscopic trans-sphenoidal surgery or initial observation in clivus chordomas.

BACKGROUND: Resection of clivus chordomas through extensive skull base approaches is associated with high mortality and morbidity even in experienced hands. We report our experience with endoscopic trans-sphenoidal surgery, or a "wait-and-scan" strategy in selected patients. METHOD: Ten patients were diagnosed with clivus chordomas during an 8-year period. Six patients underwent primary treatment with endoscopic trans-sphenoidal surgery, followed by adjuvant proton-beam therapy in three of these patients. Four patients with minor symptoms were followed-up untreated. Mean follow-up was 91 months. RESULTS: Of the six patients operated on, total or gross total resection was achieved in four, partial resection in one and biopsy was taken in one. Preoperative cranial neuropathies resolved in three out of five patients, and no new cranial nerve palsies were encountered. Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak occurred in one patient. Four patients were initially followed-up without any treatment, and three of these have remained stable without tumour progression for a mean of 94 months. Due to a slow, though progressive growth of tumour, one patient was operated on after 80 months of initial observation. CONCLUSIONS: The natural course of clivus chordomas has yet to be defined. The endoscopic trans-sphenoidal approach is a valid, minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of clival chordomas, and in selected patients a "wait and scan" strategy can be considered. Our long-term results show low mortality and good functional outcome. An endonasal endoscopic trans-sphenoidal approach should be a principal part of the armamentarium of surgeons treating clivus chordomas.

Early outcome in endoscopic extended endonasal approach for removal of supradiaphragmatic craniopharyngiomas: a case series and a comprehensive review.

BACKGROUND: The choice of endoscopic expanded endonasal approach introduces the possibility of improved gross total resection of craniopharyngioma while minimizing surgical morbidity in a significant subset of patients. METHODS: From our trans-sphenoidal surgical series of 331 cases, we retrospectively reviewed visual, endocrine and neuro-cognitive outcomes in the first consecutive eight patients (median age 63 years; range 47-73 years) with newly diagnosed supradiaphragmatic craniopharyngioma (median tumour height 23 mm; range 15-34 mm), removed by expanded endonasal approach (median follow-up 27 months; range 10-69 months). Gross total resection was attempted in all patients. RESULTS: Gross total resection was achieved in 6 of 8 patients. Visual improvement was present in 6 of 8 patients of patients or in 14 of 16 eyes. New endocrinopathy, including diabetes insipidus, appeared in 5 of 8 patients. Stalk was preserved in 4 patients. Cognitive decline was present in 2 cases. Five of 8 patients retained previous quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Our early outcome results are comparable to the recent few expanded endonasal approach series, except for the incidence of new endocrinopathy and cerebrospinal fluid leak rate. This was influenced by higher number of transinfundibular tumours in our series, where stalk preservation is less likely, and not using nasoseptal flap or gasket closure in the first half of cases. Including data from the literature and ours, expanded endonasal approach shows a trend for improved gross total resection rate with less morbidity, more obviously for visual outcome and quality of life than for endocrine outcome. However, validity of expanded endonasal approach should be confirmed in a larger number of patients with a longer follow-up period.

Long-term Recovery Patterns of Olfactory Function after Trans-sphenoidal Approach with Nasoseptal Flap Elevation.

Introduction Nasoseptal flap is widely used in reconstruction of the skull base to prevent cerebrospinal fluid leakage after surgery for skull base lesions. There has been a debate on whether more severe olfactory dysfunction occurs after nasoseptal flap elevation than the conventional trans-sphenoidal approach. Objective To compare the long-term recovery patterns associated with nasoseptal flap and the conventional trans-sphenoidal approach. Methods The subjects were divided into the conventional trans-sphenoidal approach group and the nasoseptal flap elevation group. We followed up self-reported olfactory score using the visual analogue scale and threshold discrimination identification (TDI) score of the Korean Version of the Sniffin Stick test II for 12 months, with olfactory training. Results The study included 31 patients who underwent the trans-sphenoidal approach. Compared with preoperative status, the mean visual analogue scale and TDI scores in the conventional trans-sphenoidal approach group recovered 2 months postoperatively, while in the nasoseptal flap elevation group the visual analogue scale and TDI scores recovered 6 months and 3 months after surgery, respectively. Twelve months after surgery, the visual analogue scale and TDI scores in the conventional trans-sphenoidal approach group were 9.3 ± 0.5 and 28.5 ± 4.3, while those from the nasoseptal flap elevation group were 8.9 ± 1.5 and 27.2 ± 4.7 ( p = 0.326; 0.473). Only one of the patients in the nasoseptal flap elevation group had permanent olfactory dysfunction. Conclusion The olfactory function recovered more gradually in the nasoseptal flap elevation group than in the conventional trans-sphenoidal approach group, but there was no difference between the two groups after 6 months.

The Party Wall: Redefining the Indications of Transcranial Approaches for Giant Pituitary Adenomas in Endoscopic Era.

The evolution of endoscopic trans-sphenoidal surgery raises the question of the role of transcranial surgery for pituitary tumors, particularly with the effectiveness of adjunct irradiation. This narrative review aims to redefine the current indications for the transcranial approaches for giant pituitary adenomas in the endoscopic era. A critical appraisal of the personal series of the senior author (O.A.-M.) was performed to characterize the patient factors and the tumor's pathological anatomy features that endorse a cranial approach. Traditional indications for transcranial approaches include the absent pneumatization of the sphenoid sinus; kissing/ectatic internal carotid arteries; reduced dimensions of the sella; lateral invasion of the cavernous sinus lateral to the carotid artery; dumbbell-shaped tumors caused by severe diaphragm constriction; fibrous/calcified tumor consistency; wide supra-, para-, and retrosellar extension; arterial encasement; brain invasion; coexisting cerebral aneurysms; and separate coexisting pathologies of the sphenoid sinus, especially infections. Residual/recurrent tumors and postoperative pituitary apoplexy after trans-sphenoidal surgery require individualized considerations. Transcranial approaches still have a critical role in giant and complex pituitary adenomas with wide intracranial extension, brain parenchymal involvement, and the encasement of neurovascular structures.

Evaluation of Surgical Freedom for One-and-a-Half Nostril, Mononostril, and Binostril Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Approaches.

Objective This article determines which of the one-and-a-half nostril, mononostril, and binostril endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approaches provide a superior manipulation during surgery. Methods The three approaches were orderly performed on 10 silicon-injected cadaveric heads to quantitatively assess surgical freedom and attack angle for sella. Measurements were determined with a standardized method under neuronavigation system using data of computed tomography. Results The one-and-a-half nostril endoscopic transsphenoidal approach (OETA) offered superior exposed area than that of the mononostril approach (META), and similar to that of the binostril approach (BETA). For surgical freedom at anatomic targets, the OETA showed greater surgical flexibility at pituitary center, the right medial optic carotid recess (R-mOCR), the left mOCR, the medial intersection of the right cavernous internal carotid artery, and extension line of upper margin of the clivus (R-mICC) than those of the META, and similar to those of the BETA. For sagittal angle of attack to the R-mOCR, R-mICC, and L-mOCR, the OETA can provide better angular freedom for surgeon than that of the META, and similar to that of the BETA. The OETA had the same axial attack to the pituitary center with the BETA. The OETA and the META had limited surgical freedom at L-mICC, and both inferior to the BETA. Conclusion The OETA has similar exposed area, surgical freedom, and attack angle for most anatomic targets to the BETA without resecting contralateral nasal septal mucosa, and obviously superior to the META.

Modified Ipsilateral Endonasal Endoscopic Trans-Sphenoidal Approach to Sphenoid Sinus Lateral Recess Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak Management in Two Cases: A Technical Note.

Background Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak from the sphenoid sinus lateral recess (SSLR) is very rare. Majority prefer transpterygoid approach which is extensive and time consuming. Two such cases were managed with least possible dissection/destruction of paranasal sinus. Methods Two cases of SSLR were accessed through the ipsilateral nostril from the side of CSF leak. Wide ipsilateral anterior sphenoidotomy was done preserving intersinus septum of sphenoid sinus. Middle turbinate was lateralized and remaining paranasal structures were preserved. Two handed single nostril approach was done in both the cases by 45- and 70-degree endoscope along with angled instruments. SSLR defects were visualized and packed with autologous fat graft and glue. Results SSLR defects could be visualized and packed with fat graft in both the cases from ipsilateral side. Both cases had uneventful outcome with no leak with mean -follow-up of 11.5 months. Conclusion Modified ipsilateral endonasal endoscopy trans-sphenoidal approach is least invasive technique for SSLR leak. Use of angled scope and instruments help in defect visualization, avoiding extensive paranasal sinus dissection and bony removal. Tedious time-consuming reconstructive procedures can be avoided with simple fat graft with good outcome.

Endoscopic Endo-nasal Trans-Sphenoidal Approach for Pituitary Adenomas: A Prospective Study.

The surgical approach for hypophysectomy has undergone sweeping revolution in the past three decades. With the advent of endoscopes, better instrumentation, better illumination and viewing cameras, endoscopic endo-nasal trans-sphenoidal approach to sella has now largely become the norm. The aim of this study is to present our experience, analysing the surgical outcomes of this approach in patients with pituitary adenoma, pertaining to entirety of tumor removal, alleviation of symptoms and rate of complications. This prospective  study was conducted at our tertiary health care  centre from June 2012 to June 2015. A total of 14 patients, meeting the inclusion criteria, underwent endoscopic trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy for pituitary adenoma. Age of presentation ranged from 19 to 73 years (mean 43.6 years). 9 patients were female and 5 were male. The most common presenting symptom was headache, followed by visual disturbances. Amongst those with hormonal imbalance, most common were prolactinomas and growth hormone secreting adenomas. Preoperative MRI brain showed macroadenomas in all 14 patients. 7 (50%) patients had suprasellar extension, while 5 (36%) patients had intracavernous extension too. CT paranasal sinuses provided the roadmap for surgery by identifying anatomical variations. Alleviation of headache occurred in all cases. Normalization of altered hormonal profile was seen in all cases. 83.3% of our patients with visual field defects on perimetry showed improvement post-surgery. Recidivism was directly related to the size and extent of adenoma. Transient diabetes insipidus was seen in 4 (28%) cases. Persistent diabetes insipidus occurred in 1 (7%) patient. CSF leak was seen in 2 (14%) patients, 1 (7%) patient developed postoperative meningitis. Most common nasal complication was excessive crusting. There was no incidence of any vascular complications, focal neurological deficit or hypopituitarism in our study. The pure endoscopic approach is a safe, efficacious, and minimally invasive technique for the removal of pituitary adenomas. The results have been encouraging in our prospective study. However, the importance of learning curve in endoscopic skull base surgery and use of a multi-disciplinary collaboration cannot be overemphasized.

The characteristics of and surgical treatment for pituitary adenomas in patients under 14 years old.

To investigate the clinical characteristics of pituitary adenomas in patients under 14 years old. A total of 140 children and adolescents with pituitary adenomas were admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) from December 1987 to December 2014, and their clinical manifestations, hormone secretions, images, pathological types, surgical complications and follow-up characteristics were analyzed. Fifty-eight (41.4%) males and 82 (58.6%) females with a mean age of 12.5 years old (range, 6-14 years old) were included. Regarding tumor type, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), non-functioning and multiple-secreting adenomas accounted for 35.7%, 25.7%, 12.2%, 25.7%, and 0.7% of the tumors, respectively. Microadenomas, macroadenomas and giant adenomas accounted for 33.6%, 60.0% and 6.4% of the patients, respectively. Approximately 19.3% of the adenomas included in our study were invasive. Trans-sphenoidal approach surgery (TSS) was commonly used and accounted for 97.9% of the cases in our study. Total resection was achieved in 93.6% of the patients, and subtotal resection was performed in the remaining patients. Finally, 113 patients underwent full-term follow-up until 2 years after surgery, and tumors recurred in 32 patients. TSS is the most commonly used surgical procedure in patients younger than 14 years old. No significant differences in surgical outcomes, mortality during the perioperative period or complications were observed between patients younger than 14 years old and similar patients in the general population.

Anatomical Risk Factors for Intraoperative Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks During Transsphenoidal Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas.

BACKGROUND: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistulas are among the most clinically important and frequent complications of transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas. Between the adenoma and the CSF, a "barrier" exists that consists of ≤3 elements. These, from cephalad to caudad, are the arachnoid, dura mater (sellar diaphragm), and pituitary glandular tissue. The objective of the present study was to determine whether the presence or absence of any of these 3 anatomical elements would be associated with the development of an intraoperative CSF fistula. METHODS: From November 2016 to June 2018, 40 patients with pituitary adenomas underwent surgery, by transsphenoidal endonasal access, under a microscope. All procedures were filmed in 3 dimensions. The intraoperative findings and preoperative magnetic resonance images were analyzed and compared. The patients who had developed a fistula were compared against those who had not. RESULTS: In 20 patients, glandular tissue was identified between the tumor and subarachnoid space. In 13, dura mater was evident, and in 7, only the arachnoid was noted. An intraoperative CSF fistula occurred in 6 patients, all of whom had the arachnoid as the only barrier. The presence of a fistula was significantly more likely statistically for patients with an arachnoid-only barrier than for those with any other barrier composition (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The anatomical architecture forming the roof of the pituitary fossa is an important determinant of intraoperative CSF fistula risk. When the barrier consists of only the arachnoid, the risk will be significantly greater than when the barrier contains additional elements. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging would be useful to determine the type of the existing barrier.

Endoscopic Endo-Nasal Trans-Sphenoidal Excision of Pituitary Tumors: An Institutional Experience.

To analyze the clinical presentation, management and outcomes of patients with pituitary adenoma treated by Endoscopic Endo-nasal Trans-sphenoidal (EETS) excision. Study was conducted on the basis of medical records of 14 patients who had undergone EETS excision of pituitary adenomas. The data obtained was assessed for demographic and clinical characteristics, radiographic features and post-operative outcomes. Study included 10 males and 4 females. Mean age of patients was 46.43 years (range 16-70 Years). Most common presentation was diminished vision reported in 79% patients. Features of acromegaly encountered in 21% cases. Location of majority of tumors was sellar with supra-sellar extension (71%) followed by sellar (14%), sellar with para-sellar extension (7%) and sellar with supra-sellar and para-sellar extensions (7%). Total tumor resection was achieved in 64% cases and sub-total resection in 36% cases. One of the lesions on biopsy revealed granulomatous pathology. No post-operative complication was seen in 71% patients. Transient Diabetes Insipidus was observed in 21% cases that resolved within 3-4 days. One patient expired due to meningitis and septicemia. One patient had CSF leak that was effectively managed by placing lumbar drain. There was significant improvement in visual symptoms and hormonal levels. Average hospital stay was 13.54 days and mean follow up period was 13 months. EETS approach is safe, minimally invasive and effective surgical technique for resection of pituitary adenomas with low post-operative morbidity, reduced hospital stay and better remission of symptoms.

Long-term Recovery Patterns of Olfactory Function after Trans-sphenoidal Approach with Nasoseptal Flap Elevation

Abstract Introduction Nasoseptal flap is widely used in reconstruction of the skull base to prevent cerebrospinal fluid leakage after surgery for skull base lesions. There has been a debate on whether more severe olfactory dysfunction occurs after nasoseptal flap elevation than the conventional trans-sphenoidal approach. Objective To compare the long-term recovery patterns associated with nasoseptal flap and the conventional trans-sphenoidal approach. Methods The subjects were divided into the conventional trans-sphenoidal approach group and the nasoseptal flap elevation group. We followed up self-reported olfactory score using the visual analogue scale and threshold discrimination identification (TDI) score of the Korean Version of the Sniffin Stick test II for 12 months, with olfactory training. Results The study included 31 patients who underwent the trans-sphenoidal approach. Compared with preoperative status, the mean visual analogue scale and TDI scores in the conventional trans-sphenoidal approach group recovered 2 months postoperatively, while in the nasoseptal flap elevation group the visual analogue scale and TDI scores recovered 6 months and 3 months after surgery, respectively. Twelve months after surgery, the visual analogue scale and TDI scores in the conventional trans-sphenoidal approach group were 9.3 ± 0.5 and 28.5 ± 4.3, while those from the nasoseptal flap elevation group were 8.9 ± 1.5 and 27.2 ± 4.7 (p = 0.326; 0.473). Only one of the patients in the nasoseptal flap elevation group had permanent olfactory dysfunction. Conclusion The olfactory function recovered more gradually in the nasoseptal flap elevation group than in the conventional trans-sphenoidal approach group, but there was no difference between the two groups after 6 months.

Serial Re-Expansion of Pituitary Gland Is Associated with Endocrinologic Recovery.

BACKGROUND: Minimizing pituitary dysfunction by preservation of the normal pituitary gland has a significant clinical impact on patient outcome after pituitary surgery. This study aimed to determine whether re-expansion of the healthy gland after surgery was related to endocrinologic outcome. METHODS: From January 2012 to July 2014, 112 patients were eligible for this retrospective study. Magnetic resonance imaging with dynamic contrast enhancement done2 days and 3 months before and after surgery was evaluated to assess the tumor and normal pituitary gland. We assessed the size of the pituitary gland and evaluated the relationship with endocrinologic outcome. RESULTS: The mean preoperative size of the gland was 3.86 mm, within 2 days after surgery it was 5.50 mm and 3 months after surgery it was 7.17 mm. Preoperatively patients were grouped based on their requirement of hormone replacement. Patients who required hormone replacement therapy before surgery and did not recover from hormonal insufficiency were classified as group 1 (26 patients), those who recovered from preoperative hormonal insufficiency and discontinued hormone replacement after surgery were classified as group 2 (17 patients), and those who showed hormonally normal status and did not need hormone replacement before and after surgery were in group 3 (68 patients). In group 1, the size of the gland expanded 1.24 times within postoperative 2 days but had no increase after 3 months (1.25 mm) (P = 0.716). Group 2 showed a 1.30 times larger gland within postoperative 2 days and 2.37 times at 3 months follow-up (P = 0.001). Group 3 showed 1.62 times larger gland at postoperative day 2 and 2.1 times larger at the 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Serial re-expansion of the healthy pituitary gland at the 3-month follow-up magnetic resonance imaging can predict the endocrinologic recovery.