Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Endonasal endoscopic pituitary surgery: is it a matter of fashion?

  • Letter to the Editor
  • Published:
Acta Neurochirurgica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Kassam A et al (2005) Expanded endonasal approach: the rostrocaudal axis. Part I. Crista galli to the sella turcica. Neurosurg Focus 19(1):E3

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Kassam A et al (2005) Expanded endonasal approach: the rostrocaudal axis. Part II. Posterior clinoids to the foramen magnum. Neurosurg Focus 19(1):E4

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Maroon JC (2005) Skull base surgery: past, present, and future trends. Neurosurg Focus 19(1):E1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Oldfield EH, Vortmeyer AO (2006) Development of a histological pseudocapsule and its use as a surgical capsule in the excision of pituitary tumors. J Neurosurg 104(1):7–19

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Powell M (2009) Microscope and endoscopic pituitary surgery. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 151(7):723–728

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Juan C. Fernandez-Miranda, Daniel M. Prevedello, Paul Gardner, Ricardo Carrau, Carl H. Snyderman & Amin B. Kassam

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Ricardo Carrau, Carl H. Snyderman & Amin B. Kassam

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, 200 Lothrop Street, PUH B400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Daniel M. Prevedello

Authors
  1. Juan C. Fernandez-Miranda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Daniel M. Prevedello
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Paul Gardner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ricardo Carrau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Carl H. Snyderman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Amin B. Kassam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel M. Prevedello.

Additional information

Comment

These comments are fair. I accept and think I have stated that the extended clival approach for chordomas and chondrosarcomas is much improved by endoscopy, and in experienced hands is not only far less destructive than open surgery but also more likely to result in higher tumour resection percentages. I would generally agree with this for craniopharyngiomas, although for a long time we have known that, despite radical excision, recurrence rates are high, and until we have longer-term endoscopic results, rather than nice early postopertative pictures, we must remain guarded.

Regarding functioning adenomas in the cavernous sinus, I feel there is far too little in the literature to tell (actually virtually none), as we already know that we are generally less successful at complete removal by any method outside the confines of the fossa and these patients almost always undergo some additional oncological treatment—usually some form of radiation therapy. The approaches exist, but until we have some longer-term evidence, this cynical pituitary surgeon with over 3,000 cases experience would say that the case is “not proven”—as judges say in the High Court.

Michael Powell

London, UK

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fernandez-Miranda, J.C., Prevedello, D.M., Gardner, P. et al. Endonasal endoscopic pituitary surgery: is it a matter of fashion?. Acta Neurochir 152, 1281–1282 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-009-0487-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-009-0487-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation