Role of Endoscopic Endonasal Approach for GH-Secreting Tumors

Endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) plays a central role in the treatment of GH-secreting pituitary adenomas (PAs)/pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs), allowing to treat not only micro- or regular macro- PAs/PitNEts, but also more complex cases, otherwise requiring a transcranial or other open approaches.

All consecutive cases of GH-secreting PAs/PitNETs treated by EEA from May 1998 to June 2023 at our Institution were included. Patients clinical, bio-chemical, and neuroradiological features were considered, as well the surgical approach adopted for each case and its related complications. Surgical and endocrinological was determined at 3 months follow-up.

Our series is composed of 356 patients (57.6% females, mean age: 47 ± 12.7 years old): 118 (33.1%) micro-, 180 (50.6%) regular macro- and 58 (16.3%) irregular/invasive PAs/PitNEts. Radical removal was achieved in 296 (83.1%) patients and biochemical control in 270 (75.8%) at 3 months follow-up. Better surgical results and higher hypersecretion remission rate were demonstrated for micro- and regular endo-/endosuprasellar PAs/PitNETs than for irregular ones (respectively p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). Higher complication and endocrinological function permanent worsening rates were observed in the group of tumors with a supradiaphragmatic extension.

Our study confirmed the efficacy and safety of EEA in the short-term follow-up in patients with GH-secreting PAs/PitNETs. This approach has demonstrated to be highly versatile, allowing to tailor the surgery to each specific case, with the aim of obtaining the radical removal and consequently the biochemical remission with minimal complications, patients discomfort, or endocrinological sequelae in a large number of cases.