title: Endoscopic transsphenoidal approach for resection of malignant pituitary blastoma in an 18-month-old infant: a technical note.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sella and suprasellar tumors are increasingly managed via an endoscopic transsphenoidal approach, but infant endoscopic surgery has not been reported. Pituitary blastoma is a rare sellar malignant tumor that primarily occurs in infants and is managed by surgical resection (cytoreduction) followed by adjuvant therapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the technique and feasibility of resection of a pituitary blastoma via endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach in an 18-month-old infant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for resection of a pituitary malignant tumor in an infant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Near-total tumor resection was achieved. The skull base was reconstructed by using a nasoseptal flap with no cerebrospinal fluid leak or any other intraoperative complications. The postoperative course was uneventful. One-year follow-up showed complete resolution of the tumor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach with nasoseptal flap reconstruction could be used as a safe, yet minimally invasive and innovative technique for the resection of pituitary blastoma in infants.
authors: *Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom; ‡Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom; §Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors: Malik
authors: M
authors: Zaben
authors: Mohsin
authors: M
authors: Zafar
authors: Shafqat
authors: S
authors: Bukhari
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Leach
authors: Charoline
authors: C
authors: Hayhurst
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D044583:Neuroendoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D019291:Skull Base / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome