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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for pituitary adenomas: technical aspects and report of casuistic
Américo Rubens Leite dos Santos1, Roberto Monteiro Fonseca Neto, José Carlos Esteves Veiga
1Department of Surgery, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. cyeamerico@hotmail.com
Objective:
Analyse technical aspects, effectiveness and morbidity of the endoscopic endonasal transphenoidal approach for pituitary adenomas.
Method:
From January 2005 to September 2008, 30 consecutive patients underwent endoscopic endonasal resection of pituitary adenomas with a follow up from 3 to 36 months. Their medical charts were retrospectively analysed.
Results:
There were 18 women and 12 men, mean age 44 years (range 17-65 yr). Among the 30 patients, 23 had macroadenomas and 7 microadenomas. Twelve patients had non-functioning tumors, 9 had ACTH-secreting tumors, 8 had GH-secreting tumors and 1 prolactinoma. Complete resection and hormonal control was achieved in all microadenomas. Macroadenomas were completely removed in 6 patients, subtotal resection in 6 and partial resection in 11. Three patients had diabetes insipidus and 5 had CSF leaks treated with lumbar drainage.
Conclusion:
The endonasal endoscopic approach for pituitary tumors is effective and has low morbidity.
