Pituitary surgery--a report of 46 cases

Resection of pituitary adenomas, by the transcranial, or more commonly, by the transsphenoidal approach is an established operation in Singapore. The authors review the results of pituitary surgery in 46 patients over a 7 year period. Forty patients had transsphenoidal surgery. Six patients had transcranial resection of their tumours. There was only one operative mortality and low morbidity. Total macroscopic resection was achieved in all but 7 patients. Eighteen of 21 patients with non-secretory adenomas had radiological evidence of cure. Normalisation of growth hormone levels was achieved in 6 out of 9 acromegalics. Three out of 6 patients with Cushing's disease had normal ACTH following surgery. Only 1 out of 6 patients was cured of her prolactinoma. Vision improved in 16 out of 25 patients with decreased vision preoperatively.