Giant pituitary tumors: a study based on surgical treatment of 118 cases

The aim of the study is to analyze the nature, extensions, and dural relationships of hormonally inactive giant pituitary tumors. The relevance of the anatomic relationships to surgery is analyzed.

There were 118 cases of hormonally inactive pituitary tumors analyzed with the maximum dimension of more than 4 cm. These cases were surgically treated in our neurosurgical department from 1995 to 2002. Depending on the anatomic extensions and the nature of their meningeal coverings, these tumors were divided into 4 grades. The grades reflected an increasing order of invasiveness of adjacent dural and arachnoidal compartments. The strategy and outcome of surgery and radiotherapy was analyzed for these 4 groups. Average duration of follow-up was 31 months.

There were 54 giant pituitary tumors, which remained within the confines of sellar dura and under the diaphragma sellae and did not enter into the compartment of cavernous sinus (Grade I). Transgression of the medial wall and invasion into the compartment of the cavernous sinus (Grade II) was seen in 38 cases. Elevation of the dura of the superior wall of the cavernous sinus and extension of this elevation into various compartments of brain (Grade III) was observed in 24 cases. Supradiaphragmatic-subarachnoid extension (Grade IV) was seen in 2 patients. The majority of patients were treated by transsphenoidal route.

Giant pituitary tumors usually have a meningeal cover and extend into well-defined anatomic pathways. Radical surgery by a transsphenoidal route is indicated and possible in Grade I-III pituitary tumors. Such a strategy offers a reasonable opportunity for recovery in vision and a satisfactory postoperative and long-term outcome. Biopsy of the tumor followed by radiotherapy could be suitable for Grade IV pituitary tumors.