Transoral hypophysectomy with mandibular symphysiotomy in the dog

A surgical approach that offered direct visualization and removal of the hypophysis was evaluated in 17 dogs. Ten of the dogs were euthanatized and used to identify reliable landmarks for the drill site in the basisphenoid bone to expose the hypophysis. The intersphenoidal suture was an accurate landmark in that 1 cm caudal to the intersphenoidal suture was determined to be the precise point for the center of the drill hole. The remaining 7 dogs were hypophysectomized, using this approach. The landmarks were accurate, the surgery had a high degree of safety, and all hypophyses were removed.