Evolving Strategies for Resection of Sellar/Parasellar Synchronous Tumors via Endoscopic Endonasal Approach: A Technical Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature

Sinonasal Outcomes of the Combined Transseptal/Transnasal Approach with Unilateral Nasoseptal Rescue Flap in Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Objectives  The authors applied surgical techniques acquired during the use of endoscopic combined transseptal/transnasal approach to reduce approach-related morbidity and improve sinonasal outcomes. Study Design  This is a retrospective cohort study of a prospectively collected database. Setting  The study setting involves a tertiary referral center. Participants  A total of 86 patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery for newly diagnosed pituitary adenomas from April 2018 to March 2021 were included. Patients treated via the combined transseptal/transnasal approach served as the study group ( n  = 18); those treated via the bilateral transnasal approach comprised the control group ( n  = 68). From the control group, propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was further performed to account for potential confounders and selection bias. Main Outcome Measures  Paired analysis was performed for pre- and 6-month-postoperative time points in study group, control group, and PSM control group. Olfactory function was evaluated by Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) test, Cross-Cultural Smell Identification Test (CCSIT), and sinonasal outcomes were assessed by Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22). Results  In the study group, CCCRC ( p  = 0.517) and CCSIT ( p  = 0.497) did not show any significant difference before and after surgery. There was some improvement in the symptom score of SNOT-22, but it was not statistically significant ( p  = 0.115). In the control group adjusted with PSM, a significant decrease in olfaction ( p  = 0.047) was observed using CCCRC. The CCSIT score was also decreased but not significant ( p  = 0.163). Also, there was no difference in the improvement of SNOT-22 ( p  = 0.781). Conclusion  Our new surgical method preserves olfactory function without compromising surgical outcomes.

Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery for Uncommon Pathologies of the Sellar and Parasellar Regions

Endoscopic skull base surgery has become an integral part of the present neurosurgical armamentarium. The pioneering efforts in which the purely endoscopic transsphenoidal approach was introduced have triggered a growing tide of using the endoscopic endonasal procedures for a large variety of skull base lesions. Because of their anatomical peculiarities, lesions of the sellar and parasellar regions lend themselves very well to the endoscopic endonasal approaches. Apart from the common pathological entities, many other less frequent pathologies are encountered in the sellar and parasellar area. In this chapter, we review the surgical technique of the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach and its extensions applied to a variety of rare and uncommon pathological entities involving the sella turcica and clivus. An overview of these pathological entities is also presented and exemplified.

Endoscopic endonasal resection of coexisting pituitary adenoma and meningioma: Two cases' report and literature review

INTRODUCTION

The coexistence of pituitary adenoma (PA) and para/suprasellar meningioma is an extremely rare event, which generally occurs in previous case reports. Literature on the endonasal endoscopic approach (EEA) to treat such synchronous tumours remains sparse.

CASE DESCRIPTION

Two cases of concomitant sellar and supra/parasellar tumours are reported. A 62-year-old woman with a PA and a tuberculum sellae meningioma and a 56-year-old woman with a PA and a cavernous sinus (CS) meningioma. Both coexisting tumours were resected through a single extended EEA and achieved a good prognosis. To the best of our knowledge, endoscopic endonasal resection of coexisting PA and CS meningioma has not been previously reported in the literature.

CONCLUSION

Our reports add to the literature two cases of coexisting PA and meningioma, with different consistence in sellar and para/suprasellar regions. Furthermore, the present case adds to the evidence that in the rare situation of coexisting sellar and suprasellar tumours located in the same sagittal plane, an extended EEA allows adequate exposure and safe removal of both tumours. However, for tumours coexisting in the sellar and parasellar region in the same coronal plane, we should draw attention to this rare situation for differential diagnosis of synchronous PA and CS meningioma to avoid unnecessary surgery and to decide the best strategy for treatment.