Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Transfrontal Surgery for Pituitary Tumors

  • Chapter
The Pituitary Adenoma

  • 82 Accesses

Abstract

The advantages and disadvantages of the transcranial route were outlined in the chapter on general considerations (Chapter 16). The primary disadvantages are the greater morbidity and mortality, the greater threat to vision, and the particular inability to adequately differentiate a microadenoma from the normal gland because direct visualization is not readily achieved. The mortality rates are generally higher than with the transsphenoidal procedures, with some reports ranging between 4.5 and 35%.1–10 The morbidity is also higher than with the transsphenoidal procedure and will be discussed under complications (Section 4).

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. W.R. Henderson, The pituitary adenomata: Follow-up study of surgical results in 338 cases (Dr. Harvey Cushing’s series), Br. J. Surg. 26:811–921, 1939.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. I. Bakay, the results of 300 pituitary adenoma operations (Olivecrona’s series), J. Neurosurg. 7:240, 1950.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. J.I. Nurnberger and S.R. Korey, Pituitary Chromophobe Adenomas, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  4. G. Horrax, M.I. Smedal, J.G. Trump, R.C. Granke, and K.A. Wright, Present-day treatment of pituitary adenomas: Surgery versus X-ray therapy, N. Engl. J. Med. 252:524, 1955.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. H. Krayenbuhl, Hypophyseal adenomas and craniopharyngioma, in: Abstracts: II International Congress of Neurological Surgery, Washington, D.C., Excerpta Med. Int. Congr. Ser. 36:E10–E12, Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  6. W.E. Stern and U. Batzdorf, Intracranial removal of pituitary adenomas: An evaluation of varying degrees of excision from partial to total, J. Neurosurg. 33:564–573, 1970.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. G. Horrax, J.F. Hare, J.L. Poppen, I.M. Hurxthal, and O.Z. Younghusband, Chromophobe pituitary tumors. II. Treatment, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 12:631–641, 1952.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. W. Tonnis, Report of 240 adenomata of the hypophysis, Zentralbl. Chir. 77:2103–2105, 1952.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. C.W. Rand, Notes on pituitary tumors including suggestions of others and personal experiences in 100 cases, Clin. Neurosurg. 3:1–58, 1957.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. A.S. Obrador, Adenomas of the pituitary based on a neurosurgical experience of 65 operated patients, Rev. Clin. 81:396–440, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Sir Geoffrey Jefferson, The Invasive Adenomas of the Anterior Pituitary, pp. 1–63, University of Liverpool Press, Liverpool, England, 1955.

    Google Scholar 

  12. A. MacKay and Y. Hosobuchi, Treatment of intracavernous extensions of pituitary adenomas, Surg. Neurol. 10:377–383, 1978.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. R.W. Rand, Transfrontal transsphenoidal craniotomy in pituitary and related tumors using microsurgical techniques, in: Microneurosurgery (R.W. Rand, ed.), pp. 74–86, C.V. Mosby, St. Louis, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  14. R.M. Bergland, B.S. Ray, and M. Torack, Anatomical variations in the pituitary gland and adjacent structures in 225 human autopsy cases, J. Neurosurg. 28:93–99, 1968.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. W.H. Renn and A.L. Rhoton, Jr., Microsurgical anatomy of the sellar region, J. Neurosurg. 43:288–298, 1975.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. A.L. Rhoton, Jr., F.S. Harris, and W.H. Renn, Microsurgical anatomy of the sellar region and cavernous sinus, in: Neuro-ophthalmology: Symposium of the University of Miami and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (J.S. Glaser, ed.), pp. 75–105, C.V. Mosby, St. Louis, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  17. F.S. Harris and A.L. Rhoton, Jr., Microsurgical anatomy of the cavernous sinus, J. Neurosurg. 45:169–180, 1976.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. D. Perlmutter and A.L. Rhoton, Jr., Microsurgical anatomy of the anterior cerebral-anterior communicating-recurrent artery complex, J. Neurosurg. 45:259–271, 1976.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. N. Saeki and A.L. Rhoton, Jr., Microsurgical anatomy of the upper basilar artery and the posterior circle of Willis, J. Neurosurg. 46:563–578, 1977.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Captain Martin Plaut, Anatomic variations of the sella turcica, Surg. Neurol. 10:259, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  21. W.E. Dandy, The brain, in: Walter’s Practice of Surgery (D. Lewis, ed.), pp. 1–671, W.F. Prior, Maryland, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  22. J.L. Poppen, The temporal approach to tumors of the sella turcica in the presence of a prefixed chiasma, J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 22:79, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  23. L.G. Kempe, Transcranial approach in pituitary surgery, in: The Pituitary: A Current Review (M.B. Allen and V.B. Mahesh, eds.), pp. 421–430, Academic Press, New York, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  24. L.I. Malis, Bipolar coagulation in microsurgery, in: Microsurgery Applied to Neurosurgery (M.G. Yasargil, ed.), pp. 41–45, Academic Press, New York, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  25. B.S. Ray and R.H. Patterson, Jr., Surgical experience with chromophobe adenomas of the pituitary gland, J. Neurosurg. 34:726–729, 1971.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. A.L. Rhoton, Jr., and J.E. Maniscalco, Microsurgery of the sellar region, in: Neuro-ophthalmology: Symposium of the University of Miami and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (J.S. Glaser, ed.), pp. 106–127, C.V. Mosby, St. Louis, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  27. F.P. Wirth, H.G. Schwartz, and P.R. Schwetschenau, Pituitary adenomas: Factors in treatment, in: Clinical Neurosurgery, Vol. 21 (R.H. Wilkins, ed.), pp. 8–25, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  28. F.C. Grant, Surgical experience with tumors of the pituitary gland, J. Am. Med. Assoc. 136:668–671, 1948.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. S.G. Elkington and W. McKissock, Pituitary adenomata: Results of combined surgery and ra-diotherapeutic treatment of 260 patients, Br. Med. J. 1:263, 1967.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. C.A. Fager, J.L. Poppen, and Y. Takaoka, Indications for and results of surgical treatment of pituitary tumors by the intracranial approach, in: Diagnosis and Treatment of Pituitary Tumors (P.O. Kohler and G.T. Ross, eds.), pp. 146–155, Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  31. C.S. MacCarty, E.J. Hanson, R.V. Randall, and P.W. Scanion, Indications for and results of surgical treatment of pituitary tumors by the transfrontal approach, in: Diagnosis and Treatment of Pituitary Tumors (P.O. Kohler and G.T. Ross, eds.), pp. 139–145, Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  32. A.M. Martins, L.G. Kempe, and G.J. Hayes, Pituitary adenomas: Concepts based on twelve years’ experience at Walter Reed General Hospital, Acta Neurochir. 13:469–471, 1965.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. H.A.M. van Alphen, Microsurgical fronto-temporal approach to pituitary adenomas with ex-trasellar extension, Clin. Neurol. Neurosurg. 78(4):246–256, 1974–1975.

    Google Scholar 

  34. J. Hankinson and M. Banna, Pituitary and Parapituitary Tumours, W.B. Saunders, London, Philadelphia, and Toronto, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  35. H.J. Svien, W.C Kennedy, and T.P. Kearns, Results of surgical treatment of pituitary adenoma: the factor of the excessively enlarged sella, J. Neurosurg. 20:669, 1963.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. H.J. Svien and M.Y. Colby, Jr., Treatment of Chromophobe Adenomas, p. 17, Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Illinois, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  37. A.A. Jefferson, Chromophobe pituitary adenomata: The size of the suprasellar portion in relation to the safety of operation, J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 32:633, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  38. H.J. Svien and M.Y. Colby, Jr., Pituitary chromophobe adenomas: Comparative results of surgical and roentgen treatment, Behav. Neurol. 1:35, 1969.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. G.E. Sheline, E.B. Boldrey, and T.L. Phillips, Chromophobe adenomas of the pituitary gland, Am. J. Roentgenol. 92:160, 1964.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. M. Feinsod, J.B. Selhorst, W.F. Hoyt, and C.B. Wilson, Monitoring optic nerve function during craniotomy, J. Neurosurg. 44:29–31, 1976.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. E.R. Laws, J.C Trautman, and R.W. Hollenhorst, Transsphenoidal decompression of the optic nerve and chiasm: Visual results in 62 patients, J. Neurosurg. 46:717–722, 1977.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. H.J. Svien, J.G. Love. W.C. Kennedy, M.Y. Colby, Jr., and T.P. Kearns, Status of vision following surgical treatment for pituitary chromophobe adenoma, J. Neurosurg. 22:47–52, 1965.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. W.J. German and S. Flanigan, Pituitary adenomas: A follow-up study of the Cushing series, Clin. Neurosurg. 10:72, 1964.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. A. Van Der Zwan, Pituitary Tumors, Thesis, Leiden (De. Kempenaer, Oegstgeest).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, 02111, USA

    Kalmon D. Post

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Tufts-New England Medical Center Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02111, USA

    Kalmon D. Post

Authors
  1. Kalmon D. Post
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. New England Medical Center Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Kalmon D. Post M. D. , Ivor M. D. Jackson M. D.  & Seymour Reichlin M. D., Ph. D. ,  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1980 Plenum Publishing Corporation

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Post, K.D. (1980). Transfrontal Surgery for Pituitary Tumors. In: Post, K.D., Jackson, I.M.D., Reichlin, S. (eds) The Pituitary Adenoma. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3668-6_19

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3668-6_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-3670-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-3668-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation