Endocrine outcomes in endoscopic pituitary surgery: a literature review.
BACKGROUND
Since the introduction of fully endoscopic surgery this new technique has been adopted with enthusiasm by many but not all pituitary surgeons. Whilst some advantages of minimal access have been recognised, the information on endocrine outcomes has been slow to accumulate.


METHODS
This literature review examined all the endoscopic papers for endocrine results and complication rates. Where adequate detail was provided these results were broken down by subtype and the pooled cure rates calculated.


RESULTS
The review revealed that the fully endoscopic method is the equal of the microscopic technique for endocrine remission in functioning pituitary tumours. Furthermore the endoscopic results in functioning macroadenomas are substantially better than the microscopic results with similar complication rates.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic pituitary surgery offers significant advantages over the microscopic technique and should become the standard method of pituitary adenoma surgery.
Dorward
Neil L
NL
Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London, NW3 2QG, UK. neil.dorward@royalfree.nhs.uk
D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome