Surgical outcomes of the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for large and giant pituitary adenomas: institutional experience with special attention to approach-related complications / Resultados cirúrgicos do acesso endonasal endoscópico transesfenoidal para adenomas hipofisários grandes e gigantes: experiência institucional com ênfase às complicações relacionadas ao acesso cirúrgico

ABSTRACT Objective In this study, we investigate our institutional experience of patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for treatment of large and giant pituitary adenomas emphasizing the surgical results and approach-related complications. Method The authors reviewed 28 consecutive patients who underwent surgery between March, 2010 and March, 2014. Results The mean preoperative tumor diameter was 4.6 cm. Gross-total resection was achieved in 14.3%, near-total in 10.7%, subtotal in 39.3%, and partial in 35.7%. Nine patients experienced improvement in visual acuity, while one patient worsened. The most common complications were transient diabetes insipidus (53%), new pituitary deficit (35.7%), endonasal adhesions (21.4%), and cerebrospinal fluid leak (17.8%). Surgical mortality was 7.1%. Conclusions Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery is a valuable treatment option for large or giant pituitary adenomas, which results in high rates of surgical decompression of cerebrovascular structures.

RESUMO Objetivo Neste manuscrito investigamos a experiência institucional com o acesso endonasal endoscópico transesfenoidal no tratamento de adenomas hipofisários grandes e gigantes com ênfase às complicações relacionadas ao acesso cirúrgico. Método Foram incluídos neste estudo 28 pacientes consecutivos submetidos à cirurgia entre Março de 2010 e Março de 2014. Resultados O diâmetro médio pré-operatório dos tumores era 4,6 cm. Uma ressecção total foi obtida em 14,3%; quase total, em 10,7%; subtotal, em 39,3% e parcial, em 35,7%. Nove pacientes evoluíram com melhora na acuidade visual, enquanto um paciente apresentou piora da função visual. As complicações mais comuns foram diabetes insipidus transitório (53%), novo défice hipofisário (35,7%), sinéquias endonasais (21,4%) e fistula liquórica (17,8%). A mortalidade cirúrgica foi 7,1%. Conclusões A cirurgia por via endonasal endoscópica transesfenoidal é uma opção terapêutica extremamente útil para adenomas hipofisários grandes e gigantes, a resultar numa significativa descompressão das estruturas cerebrovasculares.

Deliberate Two-Staged Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery in Large Pituitary Adenomas

OBJECTIVE: Two-staged endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach(TSA) has not been reported for the satisfactory removal of large pituitary adenomas with suprasellar extension. This study is aimed to determine whether deliberate two-staged endoscopic endonasal TSA would be effective for the treatment of large pituitary adenomas with suprasellar extensions. METHODS: Since 1998, we have started endonasal endoscopic TSA, so encountered 12 patients of large pituitary adenomas with suprasellar extension in which deliberate two-staged removal was carried out. The extent of tumor removal, improvement of eye symptoms and endocrine functions after staged operation were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Among the 12 patients with large pituitary adenomas, five had prolactinomas; four growth hormone secreting adenomas; three nonfunctioning tumors. The interval between the two surgical procedures ranged from three weeks to 14 weeks(mean 8.4 weeks). Of 12 patients treated by deliberate two-staged endonasal endoscopic TSA, 38.8%(7/18 eyes) recovered normal visual acuity; improvement was noted in another 55.6%(10/18 eyes). The visual fields were corrected in 88%(15/17 eyes). In these large tumors, 58.3%(7/12 patients) was removed totally, 25%(3/12 patients) subtotally, 16.7%(2/12 patients) partially. Endocrine outcome of 9 hypersecretory adenomas was relatively good. There were no significant complications. CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that the patients who have large pituitary adenomas with suprasellar extension are good candidates for deliberate two-staged endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery, which maximize tumor removal and improvement of eye symptoms, minimize complication and morbidity.

Preoperative Bromocriptine Treatment of the Large Pituitary Adenoma

We treated 8 patients with large pituitary adenomas(4 females, 4 males) with bromocriptine. In all patients the level of prolactin was decreased to within the normal range and in most patients the size of tumor was decreased remarkably, high cure rate of large pituitary tumor fallowing operation after pretreated bromocriptine was obtained.