[Treatment of acromegaly by the surgical approach through the sphenoid bone. I. Clinical results].

Forty-five cases of pituitary adenomas with clinical characteristics of acromegaly treated surgically from an approach through the nose and sphenoid sinus are presented. After the operation the somatic features of acromegaly decreased in 66% of cases, headaches regressed in 88%, visual field defects disappeared in 20% of cases. Selective removal of pituitary microadenoma caused return of regular menstrual cycles in 12 women and in 3 of them successful pregnancy and labour resulted. In cases of extrasellar growth of the tumour no satisfactory clinical remission was obtained.