ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The conventional transseptal transsphenoidal approach can inhibit visualization of the surgical field and may change the shape of external nose. We used the transseptal transsphenoidal technique to remove septal cartilage except the L strut via a modified Killian's incision and preserved the ‘key-stone area.’ The aim of this study was to verify the usefulness of this technique. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Retrospective analysis was carried out on 42 pituitary tumor patients who received this technique by a single otolaryngologist from March 2005 to March 2012 at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. RESULTS: The mean patient age at time of surgery was 52 years, and 41 cases were pituitary adenoma and 1 was Rathke's cleft cyst. Three patients had undergone prior surgery; of which 2 used a pterional approach and 1 a transsphenoidal approach. With regard to complication, there were 2 cases of CSF leakage and 5 cases of septal laceration. There were no cases of meningitis, deformity of external nose, septal perforation, anosmia, or sinusitis. In post operation follow up, 25 cases (59.5%) had no residual tumor, while 17 cases (40.5%) had residual tumor. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that transseptal transsphenoidal surgery with septal cartilage removal and a replacement technique for a pituitary tumor are effective, allow easy exposure, and result in a low complication rate.