Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary surgery: Experience of 80 cases

Abstract

Aim: Surgical approaches to the pituitary have undergone numerous refinements over the last 100 years. The fully endoscopic transsphenoidal approach has gained widespread use all around the world. We report the results of a consecutive series of patients who underwent pituitary surgery using a pure endoscopic endonasal approach and the results of the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this procedure. Material and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the hospital database of 80 consecutive pituitary adenomas that were resected with the purely endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal technique. Results: The preoperative clinical condition of the patients, hormone profile, visual field, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings, and the Hardy-Vezina and Knosp scores were evaluated and revealed the importance of the parameters for surgery. Surgical technique, postoperative clinical condition of the patients, hormone profile, complications and follow-up period were reviewed. Conclusion: Endonasal endoscopic pituitary surgery is a safe and effective surgical technique.