title: Endoscopic, endonasal, trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy: retrospective analysis of 171 procedures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endoscopic, transnasal management of pituitary gland neoplasms is a widely accepted alternative to the traditional microscopic approach. This study aimed to determine outcomes and complication rates for the largest UK series of endoscopic, trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomies reported to date.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective analysis of 136 primary resections and 35 revision cases performed at a tertiary referral centre.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total tumour resection was confirmed in over 85 per cent of primary and revision cases, with biochemical remission in 60 per cent. The incidence of complications such as epistaxis, sphenoid sinus problems, endocrine insufficiency, visual disturbance, post-operative haemorrhage, cranial nerve injury and mortality was significantly lower, compared with similar series using the microscopic approach.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite its steep 'learning curve', our series demonstrates that the endoscopic approach not only allows superior anatomical visualisation and therefore facilitates full oncological resection of tumours, but also reduces the incidence of peri-operative complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, City General Hospital, University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust, Stoke-on-Trent, UK. soniakumar111@googlemail.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Darr
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Hobbs
authors.forename: W V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Carlin
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007016:Hypophysectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation; D055815:Young Adult