Pituitary Tumor Surgery

Endoscopic surgery is performed through the nose to remove tumors from the pituitary gland and skull base region. In this minimally invasive surgery, the surgeon works through the nostrils with a endoscope to remove tumors with long instruments. Pituitary tumors can cause hormone problems and vision loss. Tumor removal mostly reverses vision problems and restores normal hormone balance

A traditional microscope technique uses a skin incision under the upper lip and removal of a large portion of the nasal septum so that the surgeon can directly see the sphenoid sinus region.

A minimally invasive technique, called endoscopic endonasal surgery, uses a small incision at the back of the nasal cavity and causes little disruption of the nasal tissues. The ENT surgeon works through the nostrils with an endoscope. In both techniques, bony openings are made in the nasal septum, sphenoid sinus and sella to reach the pituitary. Once the pituitary is exposed, the neurosurgeon removes the tumor. Complete or partial removal depends on multiple factors which is usually decided intra-operatively by the operating neurosurgeon.

Candidates for transsphenoidal surgery are usually:

• Pituitary adenoma: a tumor that grows from the pituitary gland.
• Craniopharyngioma
• Rathke’s cleft cyst
• Meningioma
• Chordoma
• CSF Rhinnorhea