Neuroendoscopic and microscopic transsphenoidal approach for resection of nonfunctional pituitary adenomas

Nonfunctional pituitary adenoma is a common type of pituitary adenoma, which can lead to headache, visual field disturbance, and cranial nerve damage due to increased tumor volume. Neuroendoscopic and microscopic transsphenoidal approaches have been widely used in the resection of nonfunctional pituitary adenomas. However, the clinical efficacy in neuroendoscopic and microscopic surgery is still controversial.

To explore the clinical efficacy of neuroendoscopic and microscopic transsphenoidal approach for resection of nonfunctional pituitary adenomas.

We retrospectively analyzed 251 patients with nonfunctional pituitary adenomas; 138 underwent neuroendoscopic surgery via transsphenoidal approach, and 113 underwent microscopic surgery via transsphenoidal approach between July 2010 and September 2015. All patients were followed up for > 6 mo. Gender, age, course of disease, tumor diameter, tumor location, and percentage of patients with headache, visual impairment, sexual dysfunction, and menstrual disorders were contrasted between the two groups to compare the difference of preoperative data. Cure rate, symptom improvement rate, recurrence rate, the postoperative hospital stay, operating time, intraoperative blood loss, and the incidence of postoperative complications were compared in order to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of neuroendoscopic and microscopic surgery.

There was no significant difference in cure rate, symptom improvement rate, and recurrence rate between neuroendoscopy group and microscopy group (82.6% vs 85.8%, P > 0.05; 90.6% vs 93.8%, P > 0.05; 5.1% vs 9.7%, P > 0.05). In the neuroendoscopy group, the postoperative hospital stay was 8.4 ± 0.6 d; operating time was 167.2 ± 9.6 min; intraoperative blood loss was 83.4 ± 9.3 mL, and the rates of diabetes insipidus and electrolyte imbalance were 4.3% and 8.0%, respectively. The corresponding results in the microscopic group were 11.2 ± 0.6 d, 199.7 ± 9.3 min, 138.8 ± 13.6 mL, and 32.7% and 20.4%, respectively. There were significant differences in postoperative hospital stay, operating time, intraoperative blood loss, and the rates of diabetes insipidus and electrolyte imbalance between the two groups (P < 0.05).

Neuroendoscopic and microscopic transsphenoidal approaches have similar clinical efficacy for the resection of nonfunctional pituitary adenomas. Neuroendoscopic surgery reduces operating time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative recovery, and complications.