ABSTRACT
Transsphenoidal microsurgery has become a major approach for removal of pituitary adenomas. Due to the anatomic differences of skull base between Chinese and foreigners and the different experience of surgeons, the pre- and post-operation managements of the operation are different. From 1982 to 2002, a total of 1 047 patients received transsphenoidal removal of pituitary adenomas in our hospital and gained satisfactory outcomes. This article summarizes our experience on 1 047 patients and discusses some relevant problems, including the diagnostic standards of adenoma size, surgery indications, the apoplexy operation, the re-operation for recurrent cases, management of complications, post-operation radiotherapy, and the anatomy of sphenoidal sinus and sellar area, hoping to improve the successful rate of the operation.