ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the selection of surgical methods for different sites of symptomatic Rathke's cleft cyst (RCC) and the clinical efficacies of these patients.Methods:Forty-seven patients with symptomatic RCC, admitted to our hospital from January 2016 to December 2019, were chosen in our study; 21 patients with intrasellar symptomatic RCC accepted surgery via unilateral nasal approach at the right side, 19 patients with intra-suprasellar symptomatic RCC accepted surgery via bilateral nasal approach, 3 patients with suprasellar symptomatic RCC accepted endonasal transsphenoidal surgery under endoscope, and 4 patients with suprasellar symptomatic RCC accepted craniotomy via pterion approach. The clinical efficacies and complications of patients accepted different surgical methods were compared. All patients were followed up for 3-36 months to observe the recurrence.Results:The postoperative symptoms of the patients were effectively improved, including headache relief ratio of 27/31, vision loss improvement ratio of 5/5, high prolactin relief ratio of 11/13, pituitary function improvement ratio of 9/18. Complications occurred in 6 patients, presenting as diabetes insipidus. Four patients recurred during follow-up.Conclusion:Intrasellar and intra-suprasellar symptomatic RCC accepted surgery via endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal approach are safe and effective; selection of surgical methods for suprasellar symptomatic RCC should be determined according to the sizes and growth directions of cysts.