Endoscopic transnasal surgery for planum and tuberculum sella meningiomas: decision-making, technique and outcomes

Tuberculum sella and planum sphenoidale meningiomas pose a management challenge given their intimate relationship to surrounding critical neurovascular structures. The development and advancement of expanded endoscopic transnasal surgery has provided a good surgical option that in well-selected cases, may provide several advantages over a transcranial route. These include early devascularization, complete dura and bone removal, elimination of brain retraction and enhanced visualization of the optic apparatus perforating vessels. The authors review the endoscopic transnasal approach to these tumors and discuss surgical decision-making and case selection, surgical technique and outcomes. We also discuss the expanding role of stereotactic radiosurgery and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for these challenging lesions.