Endoscopic endonasal approach for pituitary adenomas.

BACKGROUND

Pituitary surgery is a continuous evolving specialty of neurosurgery, requiring precise anatomical knowledge, technical skills and integrated appreciation of the pathophysiology.

METHODS

We herein detail the features of the endoscopic endonasal approach for the management of pituitary adenomas, as experienced at the Division of Neurosurgery of the Universita' degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II".

CONCLUSIONS

The endoscopic endonasal technique brings advantages to the patient (less nasal traumatism, less post-op pain), to the surgeon (wider and closer view of the surgical target area, increase of the scientific activity, smoothing of interdisciplinary cooperation), and to the institution (shorter post-op hospital stay, and increase of the case load).