[Trans-septal endoscopic approach of pituitary tumors]

The advances in endoscopic instruments have eased the approach to the sellar region through the nasal cavity. We carry out an analysis of the surgical results on 20 patients that underwent surgery for sellar tumours through a transeptal-transphenoidal approach in the last 2 years in our hospital. The average was 45.6 years old, and 75% were females. 30% of cases were pituitary adenomas and another 30% acromegaly, 25% Cushing's disease and 10% prolactinomas. No complications were encountered during surgery being the most common postoperative complications, diabetes insipida in two cases (10%) and CSF leak in one case. At present 2 patients are having hormonal treatment for panhypopituitarism. No patients developed a septal perforation, nasal deformity, epistaxis, meningitis, lip numbness or oronasal fistula. The rest did have good results noith no recurrence and hormonal values back to normal.