Perioperative nasal and paranasal sinus considerations in transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary disease

Fatigue and Its Contributing Factors in Chinese Patients with Primary Pituitary Adenomas

Background. Pituitary adenomas (PAs) refers to a group of benign tumors that develop in the pituitary gland and are often characterized by fatigue. However, fatigue has not been documented in any Chinese research involving people with primary PA. The study sought to examine the prevalence, predictors, and correlation of fatigue with the quality of life (QoL) among PA patients in China. Methods. In total, 203 primary PA patients were included in this cross-sectional study. A series of questionnaires were administered, including the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI), M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory Brain Tumor (MDASI-BT), Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Data analysis was accomplished by Pearson or Spearman correlations, linear regression, and simple path analysis. Results. Severe fatigue prior to the initial diagnosis and preparation for surgery affected 50% of PA patients. Depression, sleep disturbance, and MDASI-BT symptom total scores were independently able to predict patient fatigue. Sleep disturbance mediates the influence of depression on fatigue (IE sleep = 0.296, 95% CI: LB = 0.148 to UB = 0.471). Conclusions. Chinese patients with primary PA often report experiencing fatigue. Depression and poor sleep quality were shown to be significant contributors to PA patients’ fatigue. Depression affects PA patients’ fatigue directly or indirectly. Medical professionals should take a proactive approach to PA patients suffering from fatigue before initial diagnosis and preoperative preparation to determine necessary interventions early, thus reducing fatigue and ultimately enhancing their QoL.

Remission, complications, and overall survival in transsphenoidal pituitary surgery-a Swedish single-center experience of 578 patients

BACKGROUND

Surgical treatment of pituitary lesions causing hormonal overproduction or mass effect is standard procedure. There are few reports on the results and complications related to these surgeries from Northern Europe. Our aim was to evaluate the outcome and complications of a single tertiary surgical center over more than a decade.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study on all patients that underwent pituitary surgery from 1st of January 2005 to 31st of December 2017. The analysis included type of lesion, surgical method, pre- and postoperative need for hormonal substitution, hormonal outcome, complications to surgery, survival, need for revision surgery, or stereotactic radiation. Appropriate statistical analyses were made to evaluate surgical results, complications, and survival.

RESULTS

Five hundred seventy-eight patients were included in the study. Remission was achieved in 58% of patients with GH-producing and 94% of ACTH-releasing adenomas. Sixty-six percent had no preoperative hormonal substitution compared to 39% postoperatively. Rhinosinusitis (10%) was the most commonly reported postoperative complication followed by leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (8%) and meningitis (4%). Standardized mortality rate for the study population was higher (p = 0.18) when compared to the general population.

CONCLUSION

Our results regarding remission rates and complications are in comparison with previous studies. Surgery of pituitary lesion can be considered a safe and efficient surgery. We noted lower rates of CSF leakage in the later part of the study period and believe that this, in part, was an effect by the introduction of a multidisciplinary surgical skull base team and increased surgical experience.

Use of balloon-assisted nasal access to augment endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach: illustrative case

BACKGROUND

Pituitary adenoma is a neurosurgical pathology commonly resected via endoscopic endonasal approach. Septal and nasal passage anatomy can affect the surgical corridor and may require septoplasty or other techniques for expansion.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors presented a case of pituitary macroadenoma with septal deviation with use of balloon-assisted nasal access for surgery.

LESSONS

This technique enhanced surgical width of field and instrument maneuverability via septal medialization for successful tumor resection.

Single-institution case series of pituitary biopsy for suspected germinoma in the pediatric population: diagnostic utility, operative risks, and biopsy approaches

Little has been reported on the safety and efficacy of pituitary biopsy in the pediatric population for suspected germinoma. An updated review is needed. Patients who underwent biopsy (endoscopic endonasal vs. open craniotomy) for isolated pituitary stalk thickening were identified. Age, pre- and post-operative endocrine status, surgical approach, length of surgery, estimated blood loss, surgical morbidity, length of ICU stay, total length of stay, and pathology reports were reviewed. Nine patients met inclusion criteria. Germinoma diagnosis was rendered in 7 of 9 patients; 1 patient required two biopsy attempts. Two-patients had histology consistent with inflammation and a subsequently self-limited disease course. Average operative time, blood loss, ICU stay and overall length of stay was just over 2 h, 28 mL, 1.6 days and 3.7 days respectively. There were no intraoperative complications and all patients were discharged home. One patient developed new diabetes insipidus post-operatively. Patients who underwent endoscopic biopsy had decreased operative times and shorter hospitalizations. Biopsy for isolated pituitary stalk thickening for suspected germinoma is generally safe with high diagnostic utility. Importantly, 22% of presumed germinomas on imaging yielded alternative diagnoses on biopsy, adding support for pathology-proven data to guide treatment in relevant cases.