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Updated: Aug 4, 2025
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Navigating the learning curve with large and giant tumors: Initial experience with endoscopic endonasal
James Ayokunle Balogun1, Adekunle Daniel2, Olusola Kayode Idowu3
1Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Neurosurgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Background:
The endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) has progressively become the preferred choice of surgical intervention for PitNETs. However, the adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa has been low. We report our initial experience with the utility of the EEA in PitNETs particularly in large and giant tumors despite limited resources.
Methods:
The study was over a 73-month period at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Pre and post-operative clinical, imaging and neuro-ophthalmological findings were documented. Perioperative and postoperative outcomes were recorded. We compared the outcomes between the early 23 and later 22 patients. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, student's t test, Mann-Whitney U test and Chi square test at α = 0.05.
Results:
There were 45 patients; 25(55.6%) were males. Mean age was 49.9 ± 13.4 years. Visual symptoms predominated with 12(26%) blind in at least one eye. Median tumor volume was 20.9 cm3 and mean tumor diameter was 4.09 ± 0.89 cm. 31(68.9%) had gross or near total excision. Vision improved in 31(68.9%). There were 2 procedure related mortality from CSF leak/meningitis. The mean of the tumor diameter of the earlier patients was less than that of the latter (3.84 vs 4.40 cm, p = 0.04,). The latter group also had more gross or near total resections (26.8% versus 41.5%) but this was not statistically significant. There was no difference in postoperative complications.
Conclusions:
EEA remains a veritable option for PitNETs, including for large and huge tumors, even within resource challenged environments, with acceptable limits of complications.
