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Visual outcomes in tuberculum sellae meningiomas comparing transcranial and endoscopic endonasal approaches
Ricardo Marian-Magaña1, Marcos V Sangrador-Deitos1, Luis Rodríguez-Hernández1
1Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery "Manuel Velasco Suárez", Av. Insurgentes Sur 3877, Tlalpan, 14269, Mexico City, Mexico.
Background:
Tuberculum sellae meningiomas (TSM) account for 3-10% of intracranial meningiomas. Visual loss is the presenting symptom in up to 80% of cases. Surgical management poses a great challenge due to tumor proximity to neurovascular structures such as the optic nerve and the internal carotid artery (ICA); hence, there is controversy regarding the optimal approach. The aim of this study is to determine differences in visual outcomes between transcranial (TCA) and endoscopic endonasal (EEA) approaches.
Methods:
A retrospective study including 29 patients with TSM surgically treated by TCA or EEA between 2011 and 2023 in a single referral center was conducted. Pre-and post-operative neuro-ophthalmologic evaluations, focusing on visual acuity and campimetry, were evaluated.
Results:
Sixteen (55.16%) patients were intervened through a TCA and the remaining 13 (44.84%) via an EEA. The lesions in each group were similar in terms of pre- operative volume (15.12 vs 12.9 cm3, p = 0.497) and neurovascular invasion (optic canal invasion 48.26 vs 41.37%, p = 0.664; ICA 44.81 vs 31.03%, p = 0.797). There were no significant differences in visual outcomes between both approaches; TCA presented an improvement of 5.18 points in visual fields (p = 0.140), whereas EEA had an improvement of 17.39 points in visual acuity (p = 0.114).
Conclusion:
EEA seems to offer greater improvement in visual acuity than TCA. However, the ideal approach should be individualized; taking into account the tumor's volume and invasiveness, as well as the patient's visual complaints.
