The role of multimodal navigation in endoscopic endonasal surgery for giant pituitary adenomas

Comparison of Surgical Modalities for Giant Pituitary Adenoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 1413 Patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Giant pituitary adenomas (GPAs) are a challenging clinical entity, composing 5% to 15% of all pituitary adenomas. While the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal (EET) approach has surpassed the microsurgical transsphenoidal (MT) and transcranial (TC) approaches as the first-line surgical modality in most institutions, a systematic review comparing the 3 approaches has not been undertaken since 2012. Given growing adoption of EET and development of novel operative techniques over the past decade, an updated comparison of GPA surgical modalities is warranted.

METHODS

We identified all studies related to the surgical management of GPAs in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to December 31, 2021. End points assessed included gross total resection (GTR) rates, postoperative visual improvement, mortality, and perioperative complications.

RESULTS

After screening of 1701 studies, we identified 45 studies on the surgical management of GPAs for meta-analysis. Thirty-one used the EET approach (n = 1413), 11 studies used the MT approach (n = 601), and 10 used the TC approach (n = 416). The cumulative number of patients treated by EET did not exceed that of patients treated by the TC or MT approaches until 2014 and 2015, respectively. Despite patients undergoing EET having the highest average tumor diameter, pooled rates for GTR were significantly higher for EET (42%) than MT (33%, P < .001) and TC (8%, P < .001) and EET similarly exhibited superior rates of visual improvement (85%) than MT (73%, P < .001) and TC (56%, P < .001). Mortality rates were comparable between EET (0.6%) and MT (1.6%), but EET had significantly lower mortality than TC (2.7%, P < .001). Compared with MT, EET had lower rates of hypopituitarism (8.5% vs 14.9%, P = .012) but higher rates of diabetes insipidus (3.1% vs 0.5%, P = .001).

CONCLUSION

In an updated meta-analysis of 1413 patients with GPA, EET resection conferred significantly higher rates of visual improvement and GTR, when compared with the MT and TC approaches.

How we do it: the double keyhole micro-endoscopic combined complex pituitary adenoma surgery

BACKGROUND

Surgical removal of complex pituitary adenomas (PA) is a technically challenging procedure. To ensure safe and efficient surgery, we employ the micro-endoscopic combination technique.

METHOD

In this study, we present our approach to the removal of a complex PA using the micro-endoscopic combination strategy. We describe our surgical setup and workflow in detail.

CONCLUSION

Our experience with this case highlights the effectiveness of the micro-endoscopic combination technique in the management of complicated skull base surgeries with good teamwork and cooperation.

Effect of facility volume on giant pituitary adenoma neurosurgical outcomes

OBJECTIVE

Giant pituitary adenomas (PAs), defined as 4 cm or greater at their maximum diameter, are commonly treated with neurosurgical intervention as the first-line therapy. However, existing studies are from high-volume institutions whose outcomes may not be representative of many cancer centers. In the present study, the authors use a large cancer registry to evaluate demographics, national treatment trends, and outcomes by facility volume to address knowledge gaps for this uncommon tumor.

METHODS

The National Cancer Database was queried for adult patients with PAs who had undergone resection from 2004 to 2016. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression modeling was used to evaluate the prognostic impact of covariates on short-term outcomes including 30-day readmission (30R), 30-day mortality (30M), 90-day mortality (90M), and prolonged length of inpatient hospital stay (LOS). Propensity score matching was used for validation.

RESULTS

Among the 39,030 patients who met the study inclusion criteria, 3696 giant PAs were identified. These tumors had higher rates of subtotal resection (55% vs 24%, p < 0.001), adjunctive radiotherapy (15% vs 5%, p < 0.001), and hormonal therapy (8% vs 4%, p < 0.001) than nongiant PAs. The giant PAs also had worse 30M (0.6% vs 3.1%, p < 0.001), 90M (1.0% vs 5.0%, p < 0.001), 30R (4.0% vs 6.3%, p < 0.001), and LOS (22.2% vs 42.1%, p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis for giant PA, decreased tumor size, younger age, race other than African American, lower comorbidity score, and high-volume facility (HVF; defined as ≥ 2.5 giant PA cases per year) were statistically significant predictors of favorable outcomes. Specifically, 30M, 90M, 30R, and LOS were decreased by 50%, 43%, 55%, and 32%, respectively, when giant PAs were treated at HVFs (each p < 0.05). HVFs more often used the endoscopic approach (71% vs 46%, p < 0.001) and less adjuvant radiotherapy (11% vs 16%, p < 0.001). Propensity score matching validated 30M, 30R, and LOS outcome differences in a cohort of 1056 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence of superior outcomes when giant PAs are treated at HVFs. These results likely reflect the relation between physician experience and outcomes for these uncommon tumors, which suggests the need for institutional collaboration as a potential goal in their surgical management.

A new comprehensive grading for giant pituitary adenomas: SLAP grading

AimGiant pituitary adenomas are difficult to resect due to multicompartmental extension. We developed a new grading system for giant pituitary adenomas (GPAs) considering possible extension in superior, lateral, anterior, and posterior (SLAP) directions. We also related the degree of resection to the SLAP grading.MethodsA review of case files and radiological images of patients with the GPAs defined as pituitary adenomas with a size of more than 4 cm in any dimension was done. The extent of the tumour was noted and scored as per the SLAP system. The maximum total score is 10 and represents a large tumour with maximum extensions in all directions. The subtotal resection (STR) was defined as a residual tumour volume of more than 10%. The association between individual and total score on the degree of resection was determined.ResultsA total of 103 cases of GPAs were analyzed. All patients had a suprasellar (S) extension. The lateral (L) extension was seen in 97.3% of cases. The anterior (A) extension was seen in 28 (27.2%) cases. The posterior (P) extension was seen in 45 (43.7%). Forty-eight (46.6%) had a total score of 5 or more. The STR was achieved in 64 (62.2%) cases. On regression analysis, a total score of ≥5 was associated with odds of 5.02 (1.69-14.93), p-value 0.004 for STR.ConclusionThe SLAP grading is a comprehensive grading system that can be applied easily to the GPAs and gives a complete picture of the extension of the tumour.

Surgical management of giant pituitary neuroendocrine tumors: Meta-analysis and consensus statement on behalf of the EANS skull base section

Introduction

The optimal surgical treatment for giant pituitary neuroendocrine tumors(GPitNETs) is debated.

Research question

The aim of this paper is to optimize the surgical management of these patients and to provide a consensus statement on behalf of the EANS Skull Base Section.

Material and methods

We constituted a task force belonging to the EANS skull base committee to define some principles for the management of GPitNETs. A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines to perform a meta-analysis on surgical series of GPitNETs. Weighted summary rates were obtained for the pooled extent of resection and according to the surgical technique. These data were discussed to obtain recommendations after evaluation of the selected articles and discussion among the experts.

Results

20articles were included in our meta-analysis, for a total of 1263 patients. The endoscopic endonasal technique was used in 40.3% of cases, the microscopic endonasal approach in 34% of cases, transcranial approaches in 18.7% and combined approaches in 7% of cases. No difference in terms of gross total resection (GTR) rate was observed among the different techniques. Pooled GTR rate was 36.6%, while a near total resection (NTR) was possible in 45.2% of cases. Cavernous sinus invasion was associated with a lower GTR rate (OR: 0.061). After surgery, 35% of patients had endocrinological improvement and 75.6% had visual improvement. Recurrent tumors were reported in 10% of cases

Discussion and conclusion

After formal discussion in the working group, we recommend the treatment of G-PitNETs tumors with a more complex and multilobular structure in tertiary care centers. The endoscopic endonasal approach is the first option of treatment and extended approaches should be planned according to extension, morphology and consistency of the lesion. Transcranial approaches play a role in selected cases, with a multicompartmental morphology, subarachnoid invasion and extension lateral to the internal carotid artery and in the management of residual tumor apoplexy.

The clinical features, recurrence risks and surgical strategies of bone invasive pituitary adenomas

OBJECTIVE

Bone invasive pituitary adenomas (BIPAs) show obvious malignant behaviour. The aim of this study was to analyse the clinical features, prognosis, recurrence risks and surgical strategies of BIPAs.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Clinical charts and radiological information were reviewed retrospectively in 107 consecutive cases of BIPAs. Transnasal endoscopic surgery was adopted with the goal of removing tumours. Scheduled follow-up was performed.

RESULTS

Clinical variable analyses revealed a significant correlation between bone invasive range and sex, tumour volume and tumour regrowth. Gross total resection, subtotal resection and partial resection were achieved in 26 cases (24.3 %), 28 cases (26.2 %) and 53 cases (49.5 %), respectively. There was a significant correlation between nongross total resection and female sex, young age, large tumour volume, bone invasive range, tumour regrowth and functional pituitary adenomas in BIPAs. The tumour regrowth rates at 3 years, 5 years and 10 years were 45.3 %, 76.3 % and 97.5 %, respectively. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that tumour volume, bone invasion range, age, recurrent tumours and tumour resection degree were associated with BIPA regrowth. Multivariate analysis showed that tumour resection degree, bone invasive range, and tumour diameter were independent risk factors for BIPA regrowth.

CONCLUSION

BIPAs have the characteristics of high surgical risk, low GTR rate and high recurrence rate. There was a significant correlation between bone invasive range and sex, tumour volume and tumour regrowth in BIPAs. Bone invasive range is an independent risk factor for BIPA regrowth.

Comparison of outcomes between endoscopic and microscopic transsphenoidal surgery for the treatment of pituitary adenoma: a meta-analysis

Background

Pituitary tumors are among the most common intracranial tumors. Surgical resection is the most effective treatment for patients with pituitary tumors. Microscopic transsphenoidal surgery has become the first-choice surgical approach to treating this malignancy, although it has certain limitations. Neuroendoscopy has also been widely used for pituitary tumor surgery in recent years. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of these two surgical options for the treatment of pituitary tumors.

Methods

We conducted a literature search of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Controlled Center Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science database, Google Scholar, and Baidu Scholar. Relevant articles published up to September 25, 2020 were retrieved and then meta-analyzed using RevMan software 5.1.

Results

A total of 29 case-control studies involving 7,774 patients were included in the meta-analysis. There was no significant difference in gross tumor removal (GTR) (RR =1.11, 95% CI: 0.97-1.26, P=0.12) or hormone excess secretion (HES) remission (RR =1.08, 95% CI: 0.97-1.21, P=0.16) between the two groups. Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery was associated with a lower incidence of diabetes insipidus (DI) than was microscopic transsphenoidal surgery (RR =0.76, 95% CI: 0.60-0.97, P=0.03).

Conclusions

Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery does not significantly improve GTR or HES remission, but it can reduce the incidence of DI without increasing the rates of other complications.

Postoperative complications and quality of life in patients with pituitary adenoma

Background

Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are tumors that arise from the cells of the anterior pituitary gland. PAs are the most common tumors to occur in the sella area and the third most common intracranial neoplasm in surgery. Due to developments such as microscopy and neuroendoscopy, the curative effect of PA surgery continues to improve. However, postoperative complications may still occur. PA surgery can result in iatrogenic trauma, which is a primary cause of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea. PA surgery can affect the posterior pituitary gland, causing decreased antidiuretic hormone secretion and increased urine output, which can lead to hyponatremia. The nasal cavity and sphenoid sinuses may also be damaged during PA surgery, causing the sphenoethmoidal recess to be blocked. This increases the risk of infection. The purpose of this study was to analyze quality of life in PA patients post-resection, and to provide references for the development of early targeted risk assessment programs and intervention measures.

Methods

We selected patients who underwent neuroendoscopic transnasal PA resection at the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University between January 2017 and October 2019. These patients' hospital records were retrospectively obtained, including details of any postoperative complications. The patients were followed up by telephone 12 weeks following discharge, and we used the EuroQol 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) health scale to assess the patients' quality of life.

Results

At follow-up 3 months after discharge, 68 people (41.72%) had experienced at least one common complication, including 7 cases of infection (4.29%), 56 cases of hypopituitarism (34.36%), 18 cases of CSF rhinorrhea (11.04%), 28 cases of diabetes insipidus (17.18%), and 25 cases of hyponatremia (15.34%). Patients that experienced complications reported having more serious problems on the dimensions of the EQ-5D descriptive system (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression) than patients without complications. The scores of patients with complications on the EQ-5D visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) were lower than that of patients without complications.

Conclusions

Postoperative complications are negatively associated with quality of life in PA patients. Actively preventing common complications could therefore improve these patients' quality of life and reduce their burden of disease.