Transsphenoidal removal of huge pituitary adenomas with marked suprasellar extension: results with modified surgical technique.

OBJECTIVE A modified transsphenoidal technique to remove huge pituitary adenomas with marked suprasellar extension (4.5-8 cm of maximum diameter) is presented. METHODS The technique allowed to avoid the occurrence of a precocious descent of the suprasellar cisternal plane into the sellar plane during tumour removal and its related consequences (incomplete tumour removal, occurrence of cerebrospinal fluid leak, prolonged time of postoperative stay in hospital). Technique is performed opening at the beginning only the lateral parts of peritumoral dura mater, leaving the central part of the dura mater in support of the central part of tumour and suprasellar cisternal plane. After removal of lateral parts of the tumour, the central part of peritumoral dura mater is opened and the central intra- and supra-sellar parts of the tumour are removed. RESULTS Total removal was accomplished in 64% and 45% in groups two and one respectively. Intraoperative CSF leak occurred in 2.4% and 22.5% respectively in groups two and one. Postoperative CSF fistula did not occur in group two, while it occurred in 7.4% of patients of group one. Average time of postoperative stay in hospital was 4.3 and 8.2 days in groups two and one respectively. CONCLUSION The presented modified transsphenoidal microsurgical technique for removal of huge pituitary adenomas allowed to achieve better results than patients operated by standard transsphenoidal surgery.