title: How to deal with giant pituitary adenomas: transsphenoidal or transcranial, simultaneous or two-staged?
abstract: Giant pituitary adenomas (diameter >4 cm) are a challenge to treat, and there is no consensus on the optimal surgical strategy. We report here our experience in surgical management of these lesions. Adult patients with giant pituitary adenomas (n = 62; 54 non-functioning and eight hormone-secreting adenomas) who underwent surgical resection at our hospital from 2009 to 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Surgical and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Single transsphenoidal and transcranial approaches were used in 43 (69.4%) and four (6.5%) patients, respectively. A combined transsphenoidal and transcranial approach was used in 13 patients (20.9%) and in two patients (3.2%), a transcranial procedure was followed 3 months later by a transsphenoidal approach. Greater than 90% resection was achieved in 47 cases (75.8%). During a mean follow-up period of 46.9 months, 49 patients (79%) showed improved visual impairment scores, while none experienced visual deterioration. There was no post-operative hemorrhage or mortality. A total of 27 patients (43.5%) received adjuvant medical and/or radiation therapy. At last follow-up, eight patients (12.9%) had recurrence. For giant pituitary adenoma, the transsphenoidal and transcranial approaches should be combined flexibly based on the characteristics of the tumor. In certain cases, a simultaneous combined approach can maximize tumor extirpation and lower the risk of swelling and bleeding of the residual tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Nanjing Street 155, Heping District, Shenyang, 110001, China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Nanjing Street 155, Heping District, Shenyang, 110001, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Nanjing Street 155, Heping District, Shenyang, 110001, China.
authors.forename: Zhitao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Nanjing Street 155, Heping District, Shenyang, 110001, China.
authors.forename: Yunjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Nanjing Street 155, Heping District, Shenyang, 110001, China. cmuwuanhua@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Anhua
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004393:Dwarfism, Pituitary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D009666:Nose / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012886:Skull / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Endoscope; Pituitary adenoma; Transcranial; Transsphenoidal