Reoperation for recurrent pituitary apoplexy after the successful initial transnasal-sphenoidal approach surgery / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the reoperation method for recurrent pituitary apoplexy after the successful initial transnasal-sphenoidal surgery.Methods Twenty-one patients with pituitary apoplexy were found recurrence after previous tumor resection via transsphenoidal surgery in 9 months to 5 years.In the reoperation,transsphenoidal approach would be still used.The anterior wall of sphenoid sinus and the sellar floor were located accurately,and then the remnants of them were removed as large as possible to expand the range of bone window.Next,the intrasellar hematoma was cleared away gently,and the residual tumor was removed progressively and thoroughly to make sure the sellar diaphragm subsiding fully and finally removed the whole tumor.Results Most of recurrent tumors were found to be of soft texture with rich blood supply,and 17 cases were still apoplexy.In 18 cases of the 21 patients,total resection was achieved.However,for the other 3 cases with tumor aggressive growth,only massive resection was achieved,and underwent stereotactic radiosurgery postoperatively.Postoperative clinical symptoms were alleviated in 15 cases,whose hormones were also decreased.Temporary diabetes insipidus and hypopituitarism appeared in 5 and 3 cases respectively,but all of these postoperative complications were relieved after symptomatic treatment.Two cases of intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage were resolved by packing the cavity with muscle and fat flaps.All cases were followed up for 3 months- 5 years,residual tumor enlarged in only 1 case of massive resection,which umderwent transsphenoidal surgery for the third time,no other cases recurred.Conclusion Operation via the transsphenoidal approach of recurrent pituitary apoplexy after successful initial transsphenoidal surgery could achieve high total resection rate.While the accurate locating,full expansion of the saddle bone window,and repeatedly scraping the apoplexy tumor to get a full subsidence for the sellar diaphragm,are the key points to remove tumors totally as well as to improve the symptoms.