title: [Extended transsphenoidal approach to giant tumors in sellar and clival area].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of extended transsphenoidal approach, a new approach for removing giant tumors in sellar and clival area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight patients, 19 males and 9 females, aged 17 - 67 with a mean age of 47.8, with a mean history of 6.2 years, 13 with invasive giant pituitary adenoma, 10 with chordoma, 2 with giant cell tumor of bone, 2 with pituitary metastatic tumor, and 1 with pituitary endocrinal carcinoma underwent operation by extended transsphenoidal approach. The tumors were 3.0 - 5.5 cm in size. In 2 cases the tumor extended to the base of the frontal lobe, 7 tumors involved the cavernous sinus, and 19 extended to clivus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tumor was totally removed in 19 patients, removed subtotally in 6 patients, and removed partially in 3 patients. Postoperative follow-up was performed for 6 months to 4 years. No recurrence occurred except for enlargement of 2 pituitary metastatic tumors and 1 chordoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extended transsphenoidal approach satisfactorily reaches and helps remove the giant tumors in sellar and clival area without severe complication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Ren-Zhi
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zu-Yuan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Chang-Bao
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Wen-Bin
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D002817:Chordoma / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007016:Hypophysectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012658:Sella Turcica