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Pro: endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary surgery is superior to microscope-based transsphenoidal surgery

Endocrine volume 47, pages 409–414 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

The introduction of the endoscope to transsphenoidal pituitary surgery is relatively new, but represents a major advancement in the field. The use of the endoscope to visualize the sella via a direct endonasal approach offers the surgeon dramatically better visualization as well as improved range of motion compared to the operating microscope. Growing evidence confirms that these improvements directly translate into better surgical resections and outcomes. Further, patient comfort and satisfaction are higher with the endonasal method compared with other transsphenoidal approaches, and it is a cost effective technology. This position paper will outline the reasons that endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery is the preferred method for pituitary surgery, and why it will likely be adopted as the standard technique for transsphenoidal surgery worldwide.

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Fig. 1

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Vivien Bonert, MD, Odelia Cooper, MD and Anat BenShlomo MD for their constructive comments.

Conflict of interest

The author declares he has no conflicts of interests. He has previously (2011) served as a paid consultant to Karl Storz Endoscopy, but at present has no such relationships.

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  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd, Suite A6600, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA

    Adam N. Mamelak

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Correspondence to Adam N. Mamelak.

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Mamelak, A.N. Pro: endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary surgery is superior to microscope-based transsphenoidal surgery. Endocrine 47, 409–414 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-014-0294-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-014-0294-y

Keywords

  • Pituitary
  • Transsphenoidal
  • Surgery
  • Endoscopy
  • Microscope