title: The evolution of the endonasal approach for craniopharyngiomas.
abstract: Craniopharyngiomas have always been an extremely challenging type of tumor to treat. The transsphenoidal route has been used for resection of these lesions since its introduction. The authors present a historical review of the literature from the introduction of the endonasal route for resection of craniopharyngiomas until the present. Abandoned early due to technological limitations, this approach has been expanded both in its application and in its anatomical boundaries with subsequent progressive improvements in outcomes. This expansion has coincided with advances in visualization devices, imaging guidance techniques, and anatomical understanding. The progression from the use of headlights, to microscopy, to endoscopy and fluoroscopy, and finally to modern intraoperative magnetic resonance-guided techniques, combined with collaboration between otolaryngologists and neurosurgeons, has provided the framework for the development of current techniques for the resection of sellar and suprasellar craniopharyngiomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Prevedello
authors.forename: Amin B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Kassam
authors.forename: Carl H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Snyderman
authors.forename: Ricardo L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Carrau
authors.forename: Arlan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mintz
mesh_terms: D053704:Capsule Endoscopy / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000266:history; D008853:Microscopy / Q000266:history; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000266:history; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery