Postoperative Serum C-Reactive Protein and Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage after Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery.

Objective Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage in endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery is a potential risk that requires immediate repair. We investigated the potential of common postoperative hematological examinations for diagnosing postoperative CSF leakage. Methods We retrospectively studied 214 consecutive cases who underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal approach (ETSA; transsellar approach) or extended ETSA (E-ETSA). Patients with postoperative CSF leakage were defined the leak group (group L), and patients without were defined as the nonleak group (group N). Postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) was compared between the ETSA and E-ETSA groups, and between the N and L groups. Results The values of white blood cell count and CRP 1 to 7 days after surgery were significantly higher in the L group. Especially, CRP was clearly elevated in the L group ( p < 0.001). The CRP value was higher in patients in the N group after E-ETSA than after ETSA ( p < 0.001). CRP increased on the day after surgery but decreased gradually thereafter in patients after ETSA and in the N group. In contrast, CRP value tended to increase gradually after surgery in the L group. In particular, the CRP on the day before the CSF leak was confirmed was clearly higher than on the fifth to seventh days in the N group. Conclusion Elevated CRP after endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery is a potential marker of CSF leakage.

The Significance of the Intercarotid Distances for Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

OBJECTIVE: We performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to analyze the distance between the left and right internal carotid arteries (ICD) around pituitary tumors for transsphenoidal surgery (TSS). METHODS: Measurements were performed using thin slice T2-weighted MRI, and/or time-of-flight (TOI) MR angiography imaging for 64 nonfunctioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (NF-pitNETs), 22 growth hormone-producing pitNETs (GH producing pitNETs), and 46 normal controls. We measured the ICD at 3 anatomic levels: at the distal dural ring (ICD-A); at the most concave point of the C4-C5 bend (ICD-B); and at the most convex point of the C4 bend (ICD-C). Additionally, we measured the sagittal distance between the tuberculum selle and the junction of the sellar floor and clivus on the midsagittal MRI (TS-C). RESULTS: We found that ICD-B was the longest and that ICD-A was the shortest among the 3 distance parameters in all groups (P < 0.001). The comparison of the groups revealed that the NF-pitNET group had longer distances than the normal control group at all ICDs (P < 0.001). The GH producing pitNET group had longer distance than the normal control group at ICD-B (P < 0.001). Tumor volume was correlated with ICD-A and ICD-B in the NF-pitNET, and was correlated with ICD-C in the GH producing pitNET group. CONCLUSIONS: Among the distance parameters, ICD-B is the longest, and was approximately twice the width of the TS-C. The shape of the sella is an ellipse that is widest in the lateral dimension in TSS. A horizontal based dural incision may be more rational than a conventional X-shaped dural incision.

Effect of vasopressin V2-receptor antagonist tolvaptan on syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD) after transsphenoidal pituitary surgery: recovery of measured osmolality.

Background: Delayed hyponatremia after pituitary surgery can be treated with the V2-receptor antagonist, oral tolvaptan. We investigated the pharmacological effect of oral tolvaptan against SIAD in patients with hyponatremia after pituitary surgery. Methods: Thirty-nine patients with pituitary adenoma treated by endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery developed SIAD according to the major guidelines, and 7 patients (17.9%) were treated with tolvaptan. Tolvaptan was administrated orally half a tablet (3.75 mg) once in the first two cases, and half a tablet twice in the other five cases. Serum osmolality, urinary osmolality, urinary sodium concentration, urinary volume, and serum sodium and potassium concentration were evaluated before administration, and after the last oral administration of tolvaptan. Serum osmolality and urine osmolality were physically measured. Results: Serum sodium concentration was significantly increased from 132.1 ± 4.0 to 143.0 ± 2.9 mmol/L (mean ± standard deviation, n = 7, P < 0.001). Serum osmolality was significantly increased from 266.3 ± 7.7 to 289.6 ± 6.7 mOsm/kg (n = 7, P < 0.001). Urine osmolality was significantly reduced from 607.1 ± 240.4 to 262.7 ± 115.6 mOsm/kg (n = 7, P = 0.01). Urinary sodium concentration was significantly decreased from 121.3 ± 48.4 to 36.9 ± 35.0 mOsm/kg (n = 7, P = 0.001). Urine output (24-hour including the first administration) was significantly increased from 1384.2 ± 550.7 to 3291.3 ± 1710.9 mL/day (n = 6, P = 0.026). Conclusions: Oral tolvaptan administration corrects SIAD after pituitary surgery. Hyponatremia after pituitary surgery was confirmed to be due to SIAD.

Endoscopic Extended Transsphenoidal Approach for Sellar and Suprasellar Xanthogranuloma: Potential Implications for Surgical Strategies in Adult Craniopharyngioma.

OBJECTIVE: Differentiation of suprasellar xanthogranuloma (XG) from adult craniopharyngioma (CP) can be problematic in endoscopic extended transsphenoidal surgery. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical data, preoperative imaging, intraoperative endoscopic findings, and intraoperative frozen section pathology in newly diagnosed adult CPs (19 patients) and XGs (6 patients). RESULTS: Intracystic signal intensity was often high on T1-weighted magnetic resonance images in the XGs but low in the CPs (P = 0.015). Capsular intensity was low on T2-weighted imaging in XGs but iso to high in CPs (P < 0.001). Capsular gadolinium enhancement was often seen in CPs and not in XGs (P < 0.001). CPs often had a solid component with contrast enhancement but none in XGs (P < 0.001). Intraoperative endoscopic observations frequently found a whitish solid component in the CPs but yellow to brown fibrous granulomatous lesions in XGs (P < 0.001). The tumor capsule was dark grayish and soft in CPs, whereas it was fibrously hard in XGs (P = 0.002). Yellowish hemosiderin deposits were seen in all XGs (P = 0.003). Intraoperative pathologic diagnosis of CP was all verified whereas no evidence of tumor was found in XGs (P < 0.001). Partial removal was performed in 4 patients with XGs. No recurrence was observed in these patients during the follow-up period (1.5-8 years). CONCLUSIONS: Careful interpretation of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging, intraoperative endoscopic findings, and intraoperative frozen section diagnosis may be important for the differential diagnosis between XG and CP. In endoscopic-extended transsphenoidal surgery, intentional partial removal can be effective for XG after careful diagnosis.

Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Localization of the Normal Pituitary Gland in Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenoma Patients Using the Radiological Sign of "Internal Carotid Artery Notch".

OBJECTIVE: Asymmetric features of nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) are poorly understood. We investigated the asymmetry in NFPA on magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS: We reviewed preoperative magnetic resonance imaging findings of patients initially treated for NFPA. The internal carotid artery (ICA) often seemed to cause an indentation in the external shape of the tumor (i.e., the ICA notch). RESULTS: Two cases with a normal pituitary gland located at the midline were excluded. The remaining 66 cases were examined. The side where the normal gland was located was defined as the normal pituitary side and the opposite side as the cavernous sinus side. The Knosp grade was significantly higher on the cavernous sinus side (P < 0.001), and the vertical distance of the ICA was significantly greater on the cavernous sinus side (P < 0.001). The ICA notch was found in 87.9% of all cases on the normal pituitary side, but in only 45.5% on the cavernous sinus side (P < 0.001). In cases with a single-side ICA notch (34 of 68), the ICA notch was found in 91.2% of cases and on the cavernous sinus side in 8.8% (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging of NFPA frequently shows asymmetry. The tumor does not extend laterally on the normal pituitary side but extends laterally more freely on the cavernous sinus side. The ICA notch is often found on the normal pituitary side where the position of ICA does not move. This may be useful as a preoperative sign to indicate the normal pituitary side.

Analysis of visual field disturbance in patients with sellar and suprasellar lesions: relationship with magnetic resonance imaging findings and sagittal bending of the optic nerve.

PURPOSE: Visual dysfunction due to sellar and suprasellar lesions is thought to be caused by chiasmatic compression and bending of the optic nerve at the entrance of the optic canal. We examined the relationship between visual field impairment and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. METHODS: This study reviewed 122 consecutive patients with sellar and suprasellar tumors. We have newly devised a simple visual field impairment score (SVFIS) that was divided into 12 areas. SVFIS is classified into four grades as mild (0-3 points), moderate (4-6 points), severe (7-9 points), and most severe (10-12 points) for each eye. We investigated the relationship between SVFIS grades and MR imaging, including the recently reported optic nerve-canal bending angle (ONCBA) and visual acuity. RESULTS: Ipsilateral visual acuity tended to deteriorate with increased SVFIS grade. Larger ONCBA was associated with increased SVFIS grades. Bitemporal hemianopia occurred in the early stage (mild case), but the central visual field within 30° was particularly likely to be impaired. The visual field disturbance progressed clockwise (counterclockwise on the left side) from the upper temporal side. Disorders of the central visual field within 5° were associated with ipsilateral large ONCBA. CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed SVFIS grades are closely associated with indicators of visual pathway impairment on MR imaging, and are useful as indicators of the severity and progression of visual field impairment due to sellar and suprasellar lesions. Disorders of the central visual field within 5° were found to be associated with ipsilateral large ONCBA.

Subtype-dependent difference of glucose transporter 1 and hexokinase II expression in craniopharyngioma: an immunohistochemical study.

Papillary craniopharyngiomas are characterized by the BRAF V600E mutation. Enhancement of glucose metabolism may be involved in the downstream of the BRAF V600E mutation in many types of tumors. Glucose metabolism was investigated in craniopharyngioma using immunohistochemical analysis. The study included 29 cases of craniopharyngioma (18 adamantinomatous type [ACP], 11 papillary type [PCP]). Immunohistochemical analysis was performed with anti-glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1), anti-hexokinase-II (HK-II), anti-BRAF V600E, and anti-beta-catenin antibodies. Expressions of GLUT-1 and HK-II were evaluated using a semiquantitative 4-tiered scale as 0, 1+, 2+, 3+, and divided into negative (0 or 1+) or positive (2+ or 3+) group. GLUT-1 expression level was significantly higher in PCPs than ACPs (0, 1+, 2+, 3+ = 2, 12, 4, 0 cases in ACP, respectively, 0, 1+, 2+, 3+ = 0, 2, 5, 4 in PCP, p = 0.001), and most PCPs were classified into positive group (positive rate, 22.2% [4/18] in ACP, 81.8% [9/11] in PCP; p = 0.003). HK-II expression was also conspicuous in PCPs (0, 1+, 2+, 3+ = 7, 9, 2, 0 cases in ACP, 0, 3, 3, 5 in PCP; p = 0.001), and most of them divided into positive group (positive rate, 11.1% [2/18] in ACP, 72.7% [8/11] in PCP; p = 0.001). Expression patterns of BRAF V600E and beta-catenin reflected the clinicopathological subtypes. Both GLUT-1 and HK-II expressions were prominent in PCP. Glucose metabolism might be more enhanced in PCP than ACP. PCP may use the glucose metabolic system downstream of the BRAF V600E mutant protein.