Required Reading: The Most Impactful Articles in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery has become widely accepted in neurosurgery and otolaryngology over the last 15 years. However, there has yet to be a formal curation of the most impactful articles for an introductory curriculum to its technical evolution.


METHODS
The Science Citation Index Expanded was used to generate a citation rank list (October 2015) on articles relevant to endoscopic skull base surgery. The top 35 cited articles overall, as well as the top 15 since 2009, were identified. Journal, year, author, study population, article format, and level of evidence were compiled. Additional surgeon experts were polled and made recommendations for significant contributions to the literature.


RESULTS
The top 35 publications ranged from 98 to 467 citations and were published in 10 different journals. Four articles had more than 250 citations. A period of frequent contribution occurred between 2005 and 2009, when 21/35 reports were published. 18/35 articles were case series, and 13/35 were technical reports. There were 11/35 articles focused primarily on pituitary surgery and 10/35 on extrasellar lesions. The top 15 articles since 2009 had 8/15 articles focused on extrasellar lesions. Polled surgeons consistently identified the most prominently cited articles, and their recommendations drew attention to cerebrospinal fluid leak as well as extrasellar management.


CONCLUSIONS
Identification of the most cited works within endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery shows greater anatomic access and safety over the last 2 decades. These articles can serve as an educational tool for novices or midlevel practitioners wishing to obtain a greater understanding of the field.
Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Michael
M
Zhang
Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA.
Harminder
H
Singh
Department of Otolaryngology, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA.
Gustavo J
GJ
Almodovar-Mercado
Department of Otolaryngology, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA.
Vijay K
VK
Anand
Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA. Electronic address: schwarh@med.cornell.edu.
Theodore H
TH
Schwartz
D006801:Humans; D055811:Journal Impact Factor; D057605:Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044582:Neuroendoscopes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019291:Skull Base / Q000601:surgery*
CSF leak; Citation rank list; Endoscopic; Extended; Pituitary; Skull base surgery