[A direct transnasal transsphenoidal approach to pituitary tumors]

38 cases of pituitary adenomas were resected via direct transnasal trans-sphenoidal approach. Complete or subtotal tumor excision was achieved in 36 patients, and partial excision in 2. The operative mortality was 0. The operative techniques were, in patients with small nostrile, a 5-6 mm small incision was made in the base of lateral alar, but the speculum straightly upon to the anterior wall of the sphenoidal sinus. As expanding the speculum, the middle septum was pressed to the opposite side. Under the operating microscope, the anterior wall mucose was dissected away, the bony wall drill off and then the sphenoidal sinus approached. Other steps were as usual. All cases achieved good result. The advantages of this approach were less destructive, less time-concuming, less complications and easy to perform.