[Pituitary neoplasms extending into the nasal cavity and their needle biopsy cytodiagnosis]

In 5.5% of 126 patients treated for hypophyseal tumors at the Burdenko Institute of Neurosurgery, AMS USSR for 12 months, spread of the new growth to the nasal cavity was revealed. The tumor was usually located in the posterosuperior parts of the nose and was discovered on anterior rhinoscopy only after the nasal mucosa had been carefully anemized, particularly with the use of a nasal dilator with a lamp on its end specially designed by us. Spread of a hypophyseal tumor to the nasal cavity was encountered when the tumor was very large and grew regularly in all directions or when it was marked by selective infrasellarg growth in the direction of the sphenoidal sinus. Cytologic examination of the punctate made it possible to determine the presence of the hypophyseal tumor and its character (benign, malignant) and differentiate it from other new growths and from c.s.p. cysts.