Neurosurg Focus
-
Comparative Study
Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging-assisted transsphenoidal pituitary surgery in patients with acromegaly.
Acromegaly is a rare disease, usually caused by a growth hormone (GH)-producing pituitary adenoma. If untreated, severe cardiovascular, metabolic, cosmetic, and orthopedic disturbances will result. Surgery is generally recommended as the first-line treatment. Transsphenoidal surgical techniques were recently extended by the introduction of intraoperative MR (iMR) imaging. In the present study, the contribution of ultra-low-field (0.15-T) iMR imaging to tumor resection, complication avoidance, and endocrinological and neurological outcome was analyzed. ⋯ In this largest study to date of GH-producing pituitary adenomas in which iMR imaging-guided transsphenoidal surgery was analyzed, the results suggest that this method is a highly effective and safe treatment modality, even compared with previously published surgical series in which high-field iMR imaging was used. Limitations of iMR imaging are the detection of small residual tumor in the cavernous sinus and persisting disease that could not be observed, even on diagnostic high-field follow-up MR images. This points to a general limitation regarding remission rates that can be achieved using iMR imaging. Nevertheless, iMR imaging led to an increase of the remission rate in this study.
-
Comparative Study
Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery for growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas.
The aim of this study was to determine the preoperative predictors of the extent of resection and endocrinological remission following endonasal endoscopic removal of growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenomas. ⋯ A purely endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal adenoma resection leads to a high rate of gross-total tumor resection and endocrinological remission in acromegalic patients, even those harboring macroadenomas with wide suprasellar extension. Extended approaches and angled endoscopes are useful tools for increasing the extent of resection.
-
Comparative Study
Transsphenoidal surgery in patients with acromegaly: operative strategies for overcoming technically challenging anatomical variations.
In addition to difficulties with anesthetic and medical management, transsphenoidal operations in patients with longstanding acromegaly are associated with inherent intraoperative challenges because of anatomical variations that occur frequently in these patients. The object of this study was to review the overall safety profile and anatomical/technical challenges associated with transsphenoidal surgery in patients with acromegaly. ⋯ Transsphenoidal surgery in patients with longstanding acromegaly frequently poses greater challenges than operations for other types of sellar lesions, yet these challenges may be safely and effectively overcome with the anticipation of specific issues and implementation of various intraoperative techniques.
-
Comparative Study
Outcomes after a purely endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas.
Using strict biochemical remission criteria, the authors assessed surgical outcomes after endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenomas and identified preoperative factors that significantly influence the rate of remission. ⋯ A purely endoscopic transsphenoidal approach to GH-secreting pituitary adenomas leads to similar outcome for noninvasive macroadenomas compared with traditional microsurgical techniques. Furthermore, this approach may often provide maximal visualization of the tumor, the pituitary gland, and the surrounding neurovascular structures.
-
Comparative Study
Pure endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for treatment of acromegaly: results of 67 cases treated in a pituitary center.
Acromegaly is a chronic disease related to the excess of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor–I secretion, usually by pituitary adenomas. Traditional treatment of acromegaly consists of surgery, drug therapy, and eventually radiotherapy. The introduction of endoscopy as an additional tool for surgical treatment of pituitary adenomas and, therefore, acromegaly represents an important advance of pituitary surgery in the recent years. The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the results of pure transsphenoidal endoscopic surgery in a series of patients with acromegaly who were operated on by a pituitary specialist surgeon. The authors discuss the advantages, outcome, complications, and factors related to the success of the endoscopic approach in cases of GHsecreting adenomas. ⋯ Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery represents an effective option for 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. Factors related to the success of the endoscopic surgery are lesion size, suprasellar/parasellar extension, and the degree of sella floor erosion. Although presenting important advantages, there is no conclusive evidence that endoscopy is superior to microsurgery in treatment of GH-secreting adenomas.