Treatment of acromegaly by transethmoidal hypophysectomy

The results of transethmoidal hypophysectomy are recorded in 34 patients with acromegaly. The post-operative growth hormone (GH) level was reduced to normal in 27 (80 per cent) and to less than 18 mu/l in 33 of the 34 cases. Two patients failed to respond clinically though in one of these the serum GH fell from 100 to 14 mu/l. Both the failures had had previous surgical interference. Amongst the responders there have been no recurrences. In view of these results we are of the opinion that transethmoidal hypophysectomy is at present the treatment of choice for acromegaly.