Trans-superior meatus endoscopic surgery of sphenoidal sinus and sellar area: a surgical technique for lesion of sellar area.

CONCLUSION

A trans-superior meatus endoscopic approach to treat diseases in the sphenoid sinus and sellar area is a safe, minimally traumatic, and effective method.

OBJECTIVE

To avoid complications, we explored the use of the superior meatus and superior turbinate in the endoscope approach to the sphenoid sinus and sellar area.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of the curative effect of the trans-superior meatus approach for diseases in the sphenoid sinus and sellar area in 138 cases.

RESULTS

All of 138 patients had successful operations and no serious complication occurred. All cases were followed up for a period of 1-3 years. No recurrence was found in 94 patients with isolated sphenoid sinus disease (sinusitis, mucoceles, or mycosis). Of 24 patients with pituitary adenoma, 17 patients had entire resection and no recurrence was found. Four patients had subtotal resection and three patients had partial resection with postoperative radiotherapy, and preoperative symptoms were improved. Of 13 cases of cerebrospinal rhinorrhea in the sphenoid sinus, 12 cases were successfully repaired by a single operation and 1 case was successfully repaired by a repeat operation. Among seven cases with decompression of the optic canal, four had obvious effect, two cases showed improvement, and there was no improvement in one case.