title: Transsphenoidal removal of intrasellar pilocytic astrocytoma.
abstract: A 26-year-old man with a sellar pilocytic astrocytoma had a recurrent non-enhancing mass located in the sellar/suprasellar region visible on MRI. Due to tumor progression and worsening vision, the mass was completely resected through a transsphenoidal approach. Postoperatively, the patient's vision improved and imaging showed complete removal of the tumor and optic pathway decompression. Pilocytic astrocytomas originating in suprasellar structures can intrude into the sella, and should be included in the differential diagnosis of intrasellar tumors. The transsphenoidal approach can be effective for resecting such tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prashant Prasad
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Frederick F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Janet M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bruner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Joann L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ater
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address: imccutch@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Ian E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: McCutcheon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Pilocytic astrocytoma; Sella turcica; Transsphenoidal surgery