Endoscopic endonasal trans-sphenoid management of craniopharyngiomas

The Endonasal Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Approach to Paediatric Optic Chiasma Glioma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Optic pathway gliomas (OPGs) are rare pediatric tumors that pose significant challenges in management due to their location and clinical manifestations. Traditional transcranial approaches have been the mainstay for surgical intervention, but recent advancements in endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery offer a less invasive alternative. Here, we present a case of a 10-year-old female child with neurofibromatosis type-1 and an aggressive OPG who underwent endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal debulking surgery. The pre-operative evaluation confirmed complete vision loss, and imaging revealed tumor progression. The surgery was successful, resulting in a subtotal resection and a diagnosis of pilocytic astrocytoma, WHO grade 1. Post-operative assessments showed no complications. This case highlights the feasibility of the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for OPGs and emphasizes the importance of careful patient selection and multidisciplinary collaboration in achieving successful outcomes for these challenging tumors.

Postoperative hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction and long-term hormone replacement in patients with childhood-onset craniopharyngioma

Objective

Hypothalamic-pituitary axis dysfunction is a common complication in post-operative craniopharyngioma(CP) patients, and it greatly impacts the long-term quality of life of such patients. To better understand the effects of postoperative hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction and long-term hormone replacement therapy in patients with childhood CP, we assessed approximately 200 patients with childhood-onset CP postoperatively.

Methods

Clinical details of patients with childhood-onset CP who underwent sellar tumor resection in Beijing Children's Hospital and Beijing Tiantan Hospital from 2018 to 2019 were retrieved retrospectively. The participants were followed up to assess the effects of post-operative long-term hormone replacement therapy and assess the tumor recurrence rate.

Results

The median age of admission was 8.1 (1.8, 14.3) years. Headache (45.5%), visual impairment (39.5%), and nausea (33.0%) were the most common clinical manifestations. ACP accounted for 95% of all CP cases. The incidence of central adrenal insufficiency and central hypothyroidism within the first week after surgery was 56.2% and 70.3%, respectively. At the same time 85.5% of the patients required at least one dose of desmopressin to control urine output. Total survival and tumor recurrence rates were 98.6% and 26.1%, respectively, with a median follow-up time of 29.7 (19.0, 40.3) months. During the follow-up period, 28.1% patients met the diagnostic criteria for short stature, while 54.4% fit the criteria for obesity. In addition, 94.4% of the patients were taking at least one kind of hormone substitution, and 74.7% were taking three or more. The prevalence of levothyroxine, glucocorticoid, desmopressin, and growth hormone replacement therapy was 87.3%, 77.5%, 78.9% and 31.0%, respectively. The proportion of patients treated with the substitutive combination of levothyroxine, hydrocortisone, and desmopressin was 54.9%.

Conclusion

This study is a large-sample systematic postoperative endocrine function evaluation of patients with childhood-onset CP. Due to the high prevalence of post-operative hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction, patients with CP usually require long-term multiple hormone substitution therapy. Individualized management and accurate hormone replacement dosage for postoperative childhood-onset CP patients are of great importance.

Comparing Surgical Approaches for Craniopharyngioma Resection Among Adults and Children: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Craniopharyngioma treatment often necessitates surgical resection. Conventional approaches, such as transcranial and transsphenoidal approaches, are predominantly used. However, a recently adopted supraorbital approach may be more efficacious. Thus, this meta-analysis and systematic review aimed to compare the efficacy of the transcranial, transsphenoidal, and supraorbital approaches for resection and treatment of craniopharyngiomas.

METHODS

This study was performed following PRISMA guidelines. Analyses were performed according to study design: (1) analyses for studies comparing several surgical approaches; and (2) analyses of all included studies. Random effects meta-analysis models were used to pool odds ratios among studies comparing several approaches. Similarly, categorical meta-regression models were used to examine the effect of surgical approach as a covariate of outcome data for all studies. Statistics were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (CMA 3.3, Biostat, Englewood, NJ) (significance set at P < 0.05).

RESULTS

Patients were well-matched for age, sex, and preoperative comorbidities between groups stratified by surgical approach. Analyses including 22 studies that compared several approaches demonstrated that the transsphenoidal group had a greater occurrence of postoperative visual improvement (P < 0.0001), lesser occurrence of visual deterioration (P < 0.0001), and lower tumor recurrence rate (P = 0.015) compared with the transcranial group. Only 2 studies compared the supraorbital approach to another approach, limiting analyses. Analyses including all studies demonstrated that the supraorbital group did not differ to either the transcranial or transsphenoidal group for any examined variables.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggests that the transsphenoidal approach is associated with improved clinical outcomes for craniopharyngioma resection. There are limited data regarding the supraorbital approach, warranting future investigation.

The eagle sign: a new preoperative MRI-based tool for predicting topographic correlation between craniopharyngioma and hypothalamus

PURPOSE

Accurate prediction of topographical correlation between craniopharyngiomas (CPs) and hypothalamus is important for treatment. This study sought to develop a predicting tool based on preoperative-MRI through radiological-surgical-pathological-outcome analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Third ventricle floor (TVF), mammillary bodies and cerebral peduncle were evaluated through preoperative-MRI. An eagle-head-like sign named "eagle sign" was observed. Normal TVF on sagittal-MRI was defined as the baseline. Variants of the sign were analyzed by comparing with the baseline and corresponding correlations of CPs with hypothalamus were verified using intraoperative records, histopathology and outcome evaluation.

RESULTS

A total of 146 CPs patients, who undergone endoscopic endonasal procedure were divided into four groups based on the variants of "eagle sign". Group A: 24 patients with the upward sign; group B: 81 with the downward sign; group C: 21 with the anterior TVF upward sign and group D: 20 with the unidentifiable sign. Surgical-pathological analysis showed significant correlations between 95.8% CPs in group A and 95.2% in group C with tumor topography and tumor adherence to the hypothalamus. These CPs had their origins beneath the hypothalamus. In contrast, groups B and D, with hypothalamic origin, showed hypothalamic infiltration by tumor in 97.5% and 95% of cases in groups B and D, respectively. Outcomes of groups A and C were relatively better than groups B and D. Predictive sensitivity and specificity of "eagle sign" were more than 90%.

CONCLUSION

"Eagle sign" is an accurate tool for predicting topographic correlations between CPs and hypothalamus with high sensitivity and specificity.

Perioperative Complications in Endoscopic Endonasal versus Transcranial Resections of Adult Craniopharyngiomas

BACKGROUND

Adult craniopharyngiomas are low-grade tumors of the pituitary infundibulum that can be locally aggressive and frequently present with profound visual deficits and endocrinopathies. Surgical resection remains the preferred initial treatment for these lesions, and recently endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEAs) have become increasingly used. However, minimal data exist comparing these techniques with traditional transcranial (TC) methods. The purpose of this study was to evaluate perioperative differences in EEA and TC approaches for adult craniopharyngiomas over the past several decades.

METHODS

Craniopharyngioma surgeries in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1998 to 2014 were identified. Complication rates, mortality rates, and annual treatment trends were stratified by procedure. Annual caseload was assessed with linear regression, and multivariate logistic regression models were created to determine predictors of inpatient mortality and perioperative complications.

RESULTS

From 1998-2014, a significant increase in EEAs for craniopharyngiomas (+4.36/year, r² = 0.80, P < 0.0001) was observed. In contrast, no increase in TC surgeries for these lesions was seen. In multivariate analysis, EEAs were more likely to experience postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak (odds ratio = 2.61, P < 0.0001). However, EEAs were protective against all other perioperative complications including diabetes insipidus, panhypopituitarism, visual impairment, and even mortality (odds ratio = 0.41, P = 0.0007).

CONCLUSIONS

Over the past several decades, utilization of EEAs to resect adult craniopharyngiomas has increased. EEAs appear to be associated with lower rates of perioperative mortality and complications. However, long-term, prospective studies controlling for tumor size, location, and preoperative symptomatology are needed to determine when one approach should be used preferentially over the other.

The safety and efficacy of endoscopic endonasal approach in the treatment of recurrent craniopharyngioma: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Craniopharyngioma is the most challenging brain tumor with a high recurrence rate. Some scholars have shown that endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) can achieve a higher total tumor resection rate and significantly reduce the incidence of complications and mortality. However, there is still no consensus on the surgical approach for recurrent craniopharyngioma. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EEA in the treatment of recurrent craniopharyngioma.

METHODS

We will search 7 electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, AMED, Scopus) to collect related randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The resection rate, recurrence rate and progression-free survival rate will be regarded as the primary outcome, and the incidence of complications will be regarded as the secondary outcome. Endnote Software X9.0 will be used to filter articles, Review Manager Software 5.2 and STATA software 16.0 will be used for analysis and synthesis.

RESULTS

We will integrate existing studies to assess the safety and efficacy of EEA in the treatment of recurrent craniopharyngioma.

CONCLUSION

Our study will provide EEA as an effective and safe treatment for recurrent craniopharyngioma.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO): CRD42020199860.

Gross Total Versus Subtotal Surgical Resection in the Management of Craniopharyngiomas

Craniopharyngiomas (CP) are suprasellar tumors that can grow into vital nearby structures and thus cause significant visual, endocrine, and hypothalamic dysfunction. Debate persists as to the optimal treatment strategy for these benign lesions, particularly with regards to the extent of surgical resection. The goals of tumor resection are to eliminate the compressive effect of the tumor on surrounding structures and minimize recurrence. It remains unclear whether a gross total resection (GTR) or subtotal resection (STR) with adjuvant therapy confers a better prognosis. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy (RT) have been explored as both neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatments to decrease tumor burden and prevent recurrence. The objective of this paper is to review the risks and benefits of GTR versus STR, specifically with regard to risk of recurrence and postoperative morbidity. Aggregated data suggest that STR monotherapy is associated with higher rates of recurrence relative to GTR (50.6% ± 22.1% vs 20.2% ± 13.5%), while STR combined with RT leads to recurrence rates similar to GTR. However, both GTR and RT are independently associated with higher rates of comorbidities including panhypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus, and visual deficits. The treatment strategy for CPs should ultimately be tailored to each patient's individual tumor characteristics, risk, symptoms, and therapeutic goals.

Endoscopic Endonasal Approach for Craniopharyngiomas with Intraventricular Extension: Case Series, Long-Term Outcomes, and Review

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, craniopharyngiomas with intraventricular extension were approached transcranially; however, endoscopic approaches are now increasingly used. We sought to study the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) in the setting of complex craniopharyngiomas with intraventricular extension and to compare it with existing literature.

METHODS

Patients undergoing EEA for resection of craniopharyngioma with ventricular involvement from 2002 to 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Outcomes were compared with previously published EEA and transcranial approach (TCA) studies for all craniopharyngioma locations.

RESULTS

Sixty-two patients were included. Average tumor and intraventricular volume were 13.93 cm³ and 2.61 cm³, respectively. Patients presented with visual impairment, endocrinopathy, and, headache. Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 47% of all cases and increased to 77% after 2012 Approximately 98% experienced improvement or stability of vision. Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and meningitis rates were 19% and 8.1%, respectively. However, nasoseptal flap (NSF) use reduced CSF leak rate to 10%. Six (9.6%) patients required shunting before resection and 25% were shunted postoperatively. Seven of 10 patients (70%) treated before NSF use required shunting, whereas only 7 of 46 (15%) required shunting with NSF reconstruction. Review demonstrated similar outcomes between the present cohort and EEA or TCA for all craniopharyngioma locations. TCA had a greater GTR, however, with large study variation. EEA showed improved visual outcomes but also increased CSF leaks.

CONCLUSIONS

EEA for craniopharyngiomas with intraventricular extension shows similar outcomes to TCA and EEA for all craniopharyngiomas, expanding this anatomic limit. Given ventricular involvement, CSF leak rates are expectedly high. GTR increased and CSF leak rates dramatically decreased with time, suggestive of the steep learning curve to complex resection.

A regional Australasian experience of extended endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for craniopharyngioma: Progression of the mentoring model

Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approaches to craniopharyngioma has become increasingly popular over the last 15 years. We present the results of our retrospective series of craniopharyngiomata resected by an endoscopic, endonasal approach at a low-volume service in Australasia. Between the years of 2009 and 2017, 11 patients underwent pure endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal resection for a craniopharyngioma at our institutions. The medical records, histopathology, intraoperative findings and patient imaging were retrospectively assessed. 11 patients were included with 5 male and 6 female patients. The mean age was 32.0 years (range 14-68 years). Of this patient series a gross total resection of the tumour was achieved in 8 of 11 patients (73%). In the immediate postoperative phase, 10 of the 11 patients developed diabetes insipidus (91%). The pituitary stalk was formally not seen in 4 patients and all were treated with vasopressin. Of the 7 patients where the pituitary stalk was identified it was formally divided in 6 and preserved in 1 patient where the tumour was separate to the stalk. The endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for excision of craniopharyngioma, utilising and progressing the surgical mentoring model, can achieve adequate decompression of critical structures. Furthermore, our aggressive approach to divide and remove the involved pituitary stalk results in high rates of gross macroscopic resection with excellent long-term disease control with a greater risk of postoperative diabetes insipidus and panhypopituitarism.

Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery for Craniopharyngiomas: A Series of 60 Patients

OBJECTIVE

To report our experience of the management of 60 patients with craniopharyngioma with endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) and evaluate the feasibility and safety of EES for craniopharyngiomas.

METHODS

The clinical data of 60 patients with craniopharyngioma who underwent EES between November 2014 and December 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients had vascularized nasoseptal flaps, and the most recent 4 patients had "in situ bone flaps" for better skull base reconstruction. Visual improvements, tumor resection extents, recurrence rates, endocrine functional changes, and surgical complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

The resection rates were as follows: gross total, 68.3% (41 patients); near total (>95% of tumor removed), 15% (9 patients); subtotal (≥80% of tumor removed), 10% (6 patients); and partial (partial resection <80% of tumor removed), 6.7% (4 patients). Fifty-two patients presented with visual impairment; of these, 46 (88.5%) improved or returned to normal after surgery. Regarding the 32 patients with hypopituitarism before surgery, pituitary function was unchanged in 15 (46.8%), improved or normalized in 4 (12.5%), and deteriorated in 13 (40.6%). Eleven patients (18.3%) suffered from diabetes insipidus before treatment, and 27 more patients had this condition after surgery. Twenty-two patients had hyposmia postoperatively, and 17 patients experienced significant weight gain. Four patients had recent memory loss, and 2 of them had a temporary recent mental disorder. Three (5%) patients had cerebro-spinal fluid leakage after surgery. Three patients (5%) contracted meningitis and were cured with antibiotic treatment. One patient showed recurrence by magnetic resonance imaging re-examination, at the mean follow-up time of 22 months (range, 8-45 months; standard deviation, 11 months).

CONCLUSIONS

EES can provide surgeons with excellent exposure and can achieve a high extent of removal of most craniopharyngiomas, even those with intraventricular extensions, In our view, vascularized pedicled septal flaps and in situ bony flaps were used in skull base reconstruction.

Indigenous Inexpensive Practice Models for Skill Development in Neuroendoscopy

Introduction:

Neurosurgery is a branch having a tough learning curve. Residents generally get very less hands-on exposure for advanced procedures like neuroendoscopy. With the limited number of cadavers available and ethical issues associated with animal models, practice models, and simulators are becoming the able alternative. Most of these simulators are very costly. We tried to build indigenous inexpensive practice models that can help in developing most of the skills of neuroendoscopy.

Materials and Methods:

Models were built for learning hand-eye coordination, dexterity, instrument manipulation, cutting, fine dissection, keyhole concept, drilling, and simulation of laminectomy and ligamentum flavum resection. These were shown in the neuroendoscopic fellowship program conducted in authors' institute, and trainees' responses were recorded.

Results:

Both novice and experienced neuroendoscopic surgeons validated the models. There was no significant difference between their responses (P = 0.791).

Conclusion:

Indigenous innovative models can be used to learn and teach neuroendoscopic skills. The presented models were reliable, valid, eco-friendly, highly cost-effective, portable, easily made and can be kept in one's chamber for practicing.