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Updated: Apr 7, 2026
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
[Neuronavigation-guided pure endoscopic endonasai transsphenoidal approach for pituitary adenomas]
Objective:
To explore the efficacies of neuronavigation-guided pure endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for removing pituitary adenomas.
Methods:
Retrospective analyses were conducted for the clinical data of 139 patients undergoing pure endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas between July 2011 and July 2014. There were 55 males and 84 females with a mean age of 48. 9 (21 - 73) years. The classifications of Hardy-Wilson were I (n =16), II (n = 39), III (n = 48) and IV (n = 36). Neuronavigation was used in all patients. And neuro-ophthalmological, neuroimaging and endocrinological follow-ups were conducted postoperatively.
Results:
Total (n = 95, 68. 3%), subtotal (n = 33, 23. 7%) and partial (n = 11, 7. 9%) removals were achieved. For Hardy-Wilson I, gross total removal was achieved (n = 16, 100%); Hardy-Wilson II (n = 35, 89. 7%), Hardy-Wilson III (n = 34, 70. 8%) and Hardy-Wilson IV (n = 10, 27. 8%). Postoperative visual acuity improved (92. 1%, 70/76) and endocrine remission was observed (59. 6%, 53/89). The postoperative complications included cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage (n = 8, 5. 8%), meningitis (n = 3), sellar hematoma (n = 5) and delayed carotid artery rupture (n = 1). And the patient of hemorrhagic shock underwent emergency interventional procedures and was discharged successfully.
Conclusion:
Pure endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for removing pituitary adenoma is both safe and effective. And its efficacies may further increased through combined neuronavigation.
