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Updated: Apr 8, 2026
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Sphenoid sinus aspergilloma in trans-sphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas
Tomislav Sajko1, Živko Gnjidić, Nikolina Sesar
1Department of Neurosurgery, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Centre, Zagreb, Croatia, neurosajko@gmail.com.
Background:
Simultaneous appearance of sphenoid sinus aspergilloma and pituitary adenoma is a very rare finding.
Methods:
Retrospective analysis of patients with sellar and sphenoid sinus mass lesions who underwent trans-sphenoidal surgery was performed. Demographic data, medical history, predisposing factors, clinical picture, neurological status and radiological findings were reviewed. All patients underwent a trans-sphenoidal microsurgical treatment, and acquired specimens underwent both histopathological and microbiological analysis.
Results:
Sphenoid sinus aspergilloma was encountered in seven patients. Three patients had an isolated sphenoid sinus aspergilloma and four patients with pituitary macroadenoma had a sphenoid aspergilloma as an incidental finding.
Conclusions:
Sphenoid sinus aspergilloma can be found during trans-sphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas. Sphenoid sinus extirpation followed by adenomectomy is the treatment of choice unless invasive aspergilloma is encountered requiring additional antifungal therapy.
