Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2026

07:43
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Endoscopic transnasal pituitary surgery: report on 180 cases
S S Nasseri1, J L Kasperbauer, S E Strome
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
American Journal of Rhinology
|September 14, 2001
Summary
The endoscopic transnasal approach offers a safe and effective alternative for pituitary surgery, reducing hospital stays and improving outcomes. This minimally invasive technique is now the preferred method for treating pituitary lesions at our institution.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Endoscopic Surgery
- Pituitary Endocrinology
Background:
- The endoscopic transnasal approach is an evolving technique for treating sellar region lesions.
- It has become the predominant method for transsphenoidal procedures at our institution over the past four years.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively review patient records to evaluate the safety, functional and cosmetic outcomes, and complication rates of the endoscopic transnasal hypophysectomy.
- To assess the impact of procedural modifications on surgical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of all patients undergoing endoscopic transnasal hypophysectomy at Mayo Clinic over a four-year period.
- Analysis of safety, functional and cosmetic outcomes, and complications.
- Evaluation of procedural modifications implemented during the study period.
Main Results:
- Significant decrease in length of hospital stay, operative time, and need for nasal packing.
- Elimination of the sublabial incision.
- Complication rates were comparable to the traditional transseptal transsphenoidal approach.
- Increased success in resecting pituitary microadenomas with growing surgeon experience.
- Demonstrated utility in revision operations due to limited septal dissection.
Conclusions:
- The endoscopic transnasal approach is a safe and effective method for surgically treating pituitary lesions in adults.
- It offers advantages including reduced morbidity and improved patient outcomes.
- This technique is versatile and can be combined with other treatments like craniotomy and gamma-knife irradiation.

