Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  1999 Jun;42(6):734-737.

Endoscopic Transnasal Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery

• Dhong HJ
• Park JH
• Kim JH

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Transseptal transsphenoidal approach has been used for the surgical removal of pituitary tumor. However, it may have a chance of complications following septal surgery. Recently, endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal approach was attempted with several advantages. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 10 patients who had received endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal pituitary surgery between December, 1994 and August, 1998. We evaluated the effectiveness of this technique by analyzing operative findings, operative techniques, symptoms improvement and complications after surgery.
RESULTS
In most cases, tumor were over 10 mm in diameter. Four patients had received previous transseptal transsphenoidal hypophysectomy. This technigre reduced the postoperative morbidity and compli-cations of transseptal approach. Another advantage of this technique was to examine operative site directly in outpatient clinic.
CONCLUSION
We may consider that this approach is safe and effective, especially in revision cases after previoustransseptal surgery.

Keyword

Endoscopic surgery; Transnasal approach; Pituitary tumor

MeSH Terms

Ambulatory Care Facilities
Humans
Hypophysectomy
Medical Records
Pituitary Neoplasms
Retrospective Studies