Tuberculum sellae meningiomas: surgical technique, visual outcome, and prognostic factors in 51 cases.
Complete tumor resection with preservation or improvement of visual function is the goal of tuberculum sellae meningioma (TSM) treatment. The authors retrospectively reviewed 51 patients treated surgically for TSM between 2003 and 2010, with special attention to surgical technique, visual outcomes, and prognostic factors for treatment outcome. All patients were operated via the lateral subfrontal approach. The cohort mean age and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) on admission was 57.1 ± 13.6 and 84.3 ± 11.7, respectively. The most common presenting sign was visual impairment. The mean tumor size was 29.4 ± 10.7 mm. In 45 of the patients (88.2%), gross total resection was achieved. Improvement and/or preservation of visual acuity and visual field were achieved in 95.9% and 85.3%, respectively. Visual functions on admission were found to be the strongest predictors for postoperative improvement in visual outcome, followed by better KPS on admission, smaller tumor size, and young age. Postoperative neurological complications included cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, meningitis, and postoperative seizures. TSM can be safely operated on through the lateral subfrontal approach. A high percentage of complete tumor resection and excellent visual outcomes are achieved using this technique. Surgical treatment in the early stage of the disease may result in a better visual outcome.
Department of Neurosurgery, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel ; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Nevo
N
Margalit
Department of Neurosurgery, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Tal
T
Shahar
Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Gal
G
Barkay
Department of Neurosurgery, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Lior
L
Gonen
Department of Neurosurgery, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Erez
E
Nossek
Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Uri
U
Rozovski
Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel ; Department of Ophthalmology, Neuro Ophthalmology Unit, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Anat
A
Kesler
meningioma; optic nerve; surgical technique; visual outcome