Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea complicating conventional radiotherapy in a patient with pituitary adenoma

A 24-year-old man with a history of non-functional pituitary adenoma was treated with conventional radiotherapy. Two months following radiotherapy, the tumour size had significantly decreased, but early post radiotherapy rhinorrhea. This case highlights two predisposing factors of cerebrospinal fluid leak after radiotherapy of pituitary adenomas, i.e. skull base erosion and rapid significant tumour regression

[Results of neuro-endoscopic pituitary surgery in 26 patients with pituitary adenoma]

Endoscopic surgery of pituitary adenoma is a rapidly developing surgical procedure in the field of neurosurgery, with known limitations and advantages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of this technique for treatment of a group of patients with pituitary adenoma. In the present study, 26 patients with the diagnosis of pituitary adenoma, who were considered for endoscopic operation between 2002-2005 in Sina and Amir Alam hospitals, were included. The following data were registered: age, sex, symptoms of disease, findings of neurological exam, adenoma type [functional versus non-functional], treatment outcome and complications of the procedure and duration of hospital stay. Twenty six patients [14 male and 11 female] included in the study. Most of them were in the 3-6 decades of life. They included 11 non-functional adenoma, 9 GH-producing adenomas, 3 ACTH secreting adenomas and 3 cases with prolactinomas. Seven patients had complications of the operation [reversible in 6 patients and fatal in 1] and 6 of them had recurrence of the tumor during the 2-year follow up. Endoscopic surgery is an invaluable method for treatment of pituitary adenoma, and factors such as decreased complications and duration of hospital stay further adds to its popularity

Pre-sigmoid sinus approach to petroclival meningioma

In this article, the presigmoid avenue to pertroclival region is introduced and the advantage of such an approach is discussed. Ten patients were operated on by this approach. Two illustrative cases are also presented