Transnasal endoscopic surgery of the pituitary gland: technical note.
OBJECTIVE
An approach to transnasal transsphenoidal debulking of pituitary tumors using endoscopic guidance is presented.


METHODS
Technical details of this approach using an endoscope inserted through one nostril and operating instruments inserted through a submucosal tunnel created via the other nostril are discussed.


RESULTS
Ten patients who had operations are tabulated. Illustrative cases are presented.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic debulking of pituitary tumors can provide good results with minimal operative morbidity.
Rodziewicz
G S
GS
Department of Neurosurgery, State University of New York-Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Syracuse, USA.
Kelley
R T
RT
Kellman
R M
RM
Smith
M V
MV
D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019723:Endoscopes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007016:Hypophysectomy / Q000295:instrumentation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000601:surgery; D010901:Pituitary Function Tests; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013525:Surgical Instruments