首选溴隐亭治疗侵袭性巨大泌乳素腺瘤的综合治疗

目的观察首选溴隐亭治疗侵袭性巨大泌乳素腺瘤（IGPs）综合治疗的远期疗效。方法符合IGPs诊断标准的患者34例,均首选溴隐亭进行治疗,其中11例同时配合放疗。服药期间根据肿瘤缩小后的残留部位、有无继续显著缩小、有无耐药等情况决定是否手术或立体定向放射外科治疗或二者联合应用。术后继续以小剂量溴隐亭维持治疗。结果平均随访33．6个月,33例患者症状显著改善,1例放疗后视力改善不明显。肿瘤体积平均缩小91．4％,泌乳素平均下降约97．1％,睾酮下降、皮质醇功能低下分别由治疗前的17例、10例降至6例、6例。溴隐亭治疗期间出现脑脊液鼻漏2例,1例自行缓解,1例行经蝶、开颅联合入路切除肿瘤、修补瘘口;4例出现不同程度的耐药现象。结论IGPs应首选药物治疗,部分患者仅通过药物治疗即可达到影像学上肿瘤消失的目的,大部分患者需辅助经蝶手术、立体定向放射外科治疗,可以明显缩短治疗时间、减少药物的用量甚至停药,但要慎行放疗。     

Giant prolactinomas: clinical management and long-term follow up

OBJECT: Giant prolactinomas are rare tumors whose treatment and outcome has only been addressed in isolated case reports. The authors document the long-term follow-up findings and clinical outcome in a group of patients with giant prolactinomas. METHODS: This study is a retrospective chart and clinical review of more than 2000 cases of pituitary tumors treated at the authors' institution, of which 10 met the criteria for inclusion (prolactin level > 1000 ng/ml, diameter > 4 cm on neuroimaging studies, and clinical signs of hyperprolactinemia/mass effect). The average follow-up duration was 6.7 years after initial treatment with either bromocriptine or transsphenoidal resection. In more than 90% of the patients in this series the disease was controlled by medical treatment with bromocriptine alone; the other 10% required early surgery via transsphenoidal resection. All patients had improvement in visual symptoms. All tumors had extrasellar components, five of which exhibited frank invasion of the cavernous sinus. Tumor volume on magnetic resonance imaging was decreased on average by 69%; this occurred at a faster rate and in larger amounts when treated with bromocriptine than has been reported in the literature for macroprolactinomas. CONCLUSIONS: According to long-term follow-up findings, giant prolactinomas are exquisitely responsive to dopamine agonist therapy. In giant prolactinomas the prolactin level does not correlate with size. The main indication for early surgery is intratumoral hematoma, whereas our main indications for late surgery are cerebrospinal fluid leakage caused by medical treatment, or an increasing prolactin level despite medical therapy. Checking prolactin levels in suspicious sellar and/or suprasellar lesions may be diagnostic and prevent unnecessary surgery.     

侵袭性垂体泌乳素腺瘤的治疗策略

目的 探讨侵袭性垂体泌乳素腺瘤的治疗策略.方法 纳入侵袭性垂体泌乳素腺瘤的标准是:(1)Knosp分级Ⅲ或Ⅳ级,即肿瘤侵袭海绵窦;(2)血浆泌乳素(PRL)9.1 nmol/L;(3)高PRL分泌症状或占位效应.符合上述标准者80例,其中单纯药物(溴隐亭)治疗21例,首选药物治疗结合手术和(或)放疗组21例,首选手术治疗结合药物和(或)放疗组(首选手术治疗组)38例.残留海绵窦肿瘤行伽玛刀治疗11例.结果 平均随访62个月,MRI检查肿瘤消失57例(71%),其中单纯药物治疗组12例,首选药物治疗结合手术和放疗组16例,首选手术治疗组29例.其余23例残留肿瘤均在鞍旁海绵窦内.PRL水平正常者52例(65%),其中首选手术治疗组31例,单纯药物治疗组10例.PRL9.1 nmol/L者7例.视力改善者33例,与治疗前一致者40例,恶化7例.垂体功能低下者9例.结论 对侵袭性泌乳素腺瘤,提倡以多巴胺受体激动剂为首选治疗的个体化治疗方案.手术后仍要服用溴隐亭并进行密切随访观察.海绵窦残留肿瘤可以行伽玛刀治疗.     

非侵袭型垂体泌乳素腺瘤经蝶显微手术疗效分析

目的 分析非侵袭型垂体泌乳素腺瘤经蝶手术疗效,为临床治疗的选择提供参考.方法 回顾性分析我科近10年来经蝶手术治疗的234例患者手术疗效,并分析影响手术疗效的因素.结果 术后出现一过性水、电解质紊乱者127例(54.3%).治愈188例(80.3%),缓解12例(5.1%),进步20例(8.5%),无效14例(6.0%).无手术死亡.患者性别、肿瘤大小和术前泌乳素水平对经蝶术后疗效有极显著影响,而术前病程、术前服用溴隐停与否、肿瘤质地、肿瘤是否卒中、术中鞍膈下降程度等对经蝶手术疗效没有明显影响.经蝶手术的总费用为(12 912.0±2361.2)元.结论 经蝶显微手术治疗可以作为非侵袭型垂体泌乳素腺瘤尤其是微腺瘤和大腺瘤的一级治疗方法.     

Long-term effects of radiotherapy and bromocriptine treatment in patients with previous surgery for macroprolactinomas

The long-term effect of radiotherapy and bromocriptine treatment was retrospectively evaluated in 25 patients who had previously undergone transsphenoidal surgery for treatment of macroprolactinomas. Surgery had reduced the median serum prolactin (PRL) value from 613 micrograms/l, a reduction of 53%. Postoperative bromocriptine was administered to 21 of the 25 patients. In 14 of these patients, serum PRL values became normal or almost normal with medication. There were no radiological or ophthalmological signs of progressive tumor growth during bromocriptine treatment. Fourteen patients received postoperative radiotherapy. After withdrawal of bromocriptine in 13 of these patients an average of 7 years after radiotherapy, the median serum PRL value had further decreased by 95%. The PRL reduction was similar for all doses applied, 38 to 52 Gy. After withdrawal of bromocriptine in 8 patients not receiving radiotherapy an average of 7 years after operation, the median serum PRL level had further decreased by 75%. At follow-up, 18 additional instances of pituitary insufficiency had developed in the group receiving radiotherapy, compared with 8 cases of insufficiency in the group not receiving radiotherapy. Thus, because bromocriptine has a long-standing effect on prolactin secretion, and radiotherapy is associated with a notably high incidence of pituitary insufficiency, we propose that photon irradiation should be considered mainly for patients who are not candidates for surgical or medical treatment.     

Results of surgical management of 319 pituitary adenomas

Summary Of the 510 patients with pituitary adenoma treated surgically at our hospital in the period 1956–1984 319 were treated by the microsurgical technique, in the period 1973–1984, 235 by transsphenoidal approach and 84 by subfrontal-pterional approach. The transsphenoidal route was used almost exclusively in microadenomas, in intrasellar adenomas, in suprasellar adenomas with midline development, in adenomas invading the sphenoidal sinus and in haemorrhagic adenomas with considerable suprasellar development. In some giant adenomas the transsphenoidal route was used in a first stage operation for debulking the tumour, later removed by transcranial route. The latter route was preferred in large adenomas and especially in adenomas with laterosellar development. In some patients with PRL secreting adenomas post-operative treatment with bromocriptine proved useful when the hormone levels failed to noramlize. Post-operative radiotherapy was of value in invasive adenomas and in cases in which tumour removal was not radical.     

Gamma-Knife Surgery for Secreting Pituitary Adenomas

Summary We report our preliminary results concerning 25 patients with secreting pituitary adenomas treated with stereotactic radiosurgery after partial transsphenoidal surgery and followed over a 6–36 month-period. Among the 15 acromegalic patients, a decrease of 65% in mean GH levels was achieved after 6 months and of 77% at 12 months after radiosurgery. Presently, only 3 patients (20%) are considered as in remission (mean GH and IGF1 level into the normal range). A decrease of 46% and 65% was observed at 6 and 12 months after radiosurgery in 4 patients with prolactinomas although no normalization of PRL levels occurred. Presently, 3/4 patients have individual PRL levels slightly above the normal range. A normalization of Urinary Free Cortisol (UFC) was noticed in 4/6 (66%) patients with Cushing's disease within 6–12 months. No pituitary deficiency was noticed in this series with the exception of 4/25 patients (16%) who received subtotal or total pituitary irradiation for postoperative remnants of secreting adenomas poorly defined on MRI. One woman, who had undergone previously a conventional irradiation and presenting with a cavernous sinus adenoma reaching the optic nerve, developed an optic neuropathy. A second woman, with a cavernous sinus remnant, presented a cranial nerve palsy (VI) after the irradiation. We can conclude that radiosurgery using the Cobalt-60 Gamma-unit is, at least, as effective as conventional radiotherapy in the control of pituitary hormone hypersecretion from postoperative adenomas remnants with less adverse effects.     

Treatment of prolactinoma based on the results of transsphenoidal operations

Ninety-eight patients (16 male, 82 female) with prolactinomas were treated by transsphenoidal operation. The postoperative course was closely related to the tumor size and the preoperative levels of serum prolactin. In 37 (74%) of 50 patients with microadenomas, the levels of serum prolactin returned to normal postoperatively. There were 48 patients with macroadenomas; 27 of these were expansive and 21 were invasive. In 9 (33%) of the 27 patients with expansive macroadenomas, the postoperative levels of prolactin returned to normal; this was not the case in any of the 21 patients with invasive macroadenomas. Of 81 premenopausal women, 35 (43%) resumed normal menstruation postoperatively. All patients with preoperative deficits in the visual field experienced postoperative improvement. There were no postoperative deaths or serious complications in this series. Our data indicate that microprolactinomas are highly curable by transsphenoidal operation alone. In women who plan to have children, prolactinomas should be removed immediately. On the other hand, in patients with macroprolactinomas who manifest high levels of serum prolactin, initial treatment with bromocriptine should be considered because there is little hope for surgical cure and postoperative bromocriptine treatment might be necessary.     

Preoperative short-term administration of octreotide for facilitating transsphenoidal removal of invasive growth hormone-secreting macroadenomas

The somatostatin analog octreotide was administered prior to transsphenoidal surgery in three patients with tumors that extended to the suprasellar space and one side of the cavernous sinus. Octreotide, 100 micrograms twice a day, was subcutaneously injected for 2 weeks. Octreotide administration reduced the serum growth hormone (GH) levels in these patients from 82 to 22 ng/ml, from 148 to 12 ng/ml, and from 129 to 9 ng/ml. The tumor size shrank by about 50%, and the suprasellar extension disappeared in two patients. The main tumor was sharply dissected from the normal pituitary gland at surgery. Intracavernous portions were removed using a curette. Postoperatively, GH levels were less than 5 ng/ml in two patients, and 8.5 ng/ml in one patient. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging revealed a small residual tumor in one side of the cavernous sinus in all patients. Follow-up GH levels were less than 5 ng/ml in one patient, and less than 2 ng/ml in two patients treated with bromocriptine. Preoperative administration of octreotide for 2 weeks reduced tumor volume and allowed near-total surgical resection of invasive macroadenomas without compromising the treatment course. Residual tumor due to intracavernous extension can be managed with bromocriptine or gamma knife radiosurgery.     

Pneumocephalus induced by bromocriptine treatment in male prolactinoma--a case report

The authors reported a case of pneumocephalus induced by bromocriptine (Bc) treatment for a recurrent invasive prolactinoma. The patient was a 38-year old man, who had been treated for 12 years, with three times of craniotomies and two times of irradiation therapies. CT scan showed the recurrence of the tumor, which extended into bilateral middle fossa, left orbit and left cerebellopontine angle. Serum prolactin levels elevated to 35,200 ng/ml. Then Bc was administered in a dose of 5 mg/day. Serum PRL concentration fell to 2,090 ng/ml one month after the initiation of the treatment, when he complained of headache, nausea and vomiting. Since these symptoms were considered as the side effects of Bc, the dose was reduced to 2.5 mg/day. Three weeks later, plain craniograms showed marked pneumocephalus, while no tumor was found on CT scan. The administration of Bc was stopped and he was prescribed a complete rest for a month. The air was collected again when he began to walk around. Therefore, the transsphenoidal operation was performed in order to pack the sella turcica and sphenoid sinus with muscle pieces. Since the pneumocephalus could not be cured, the muscle, taken from the thigh, was spread throughout the left middle fossa by the front-temporal craniotomy. When Bc reduces the size of the invasive prolactinomas, the intra- and extra-cranial spaces may be communicated. The greatest care should be taken for pneumocephalus, CSF rhinorrhea and/or meningitis during the Bc treatment of prolactinomas.     

Clinical and histological correlations in prolactinomas,with special reference to bromocriptine resistance

Summary Background. Prolactinomas usually exhibit a benign course and can be safely and effectively managed by dopamine agonists (DA). However, some are locally invasive and may show resistance to DA therapy, and the management of such cases remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to determine whether histological features and markers of cell proliferation correlated to the clinical behaviour of prolactinomas and with DA resistance.Method. This retrospective study included 74 cases (36 men and 38 women) who had monohormonal prolactinomas removed by transsphenoidal surgery. The prolactinomas were categorized on the basis of tumour size (48 macroadenomas), invasion of the cavernous sinus (n = 31), and resistance to bromocriptine (BRC) therapy (n = 14). Group 1 consisted of non-invasive microprolactinomas (n = 24), group 2 of non-invasive macroprolactinomas (n = 19), group 3 of invasive non-BRC-resistant tumours (n = 19), and group 4 of invasive BRC-resistant tumours (n = 12). The later group included one case of carcinoma with bone and lung metastases. Seven additional parameters were studied, these being age, sex, basal prolactin (PRL) levels, the Ki-67 and PCNA labelling indices (LI), mitotic count, and cellular atypia.Findings. Age and preoperative PRL levels did not correlate to the histological parameters studied. Tumour size and invasion were related to cellular atypia and the Ki-67 LI. BRC-resistant tumours were more frequently invasive (12/14) than BRC-responsive tumours (11/30; p = 0.002) and were more frequent in men than in women (33 versus 5%; p = 0.003). BRC-resistant tumours had a higher Ki-67 LI and mitotic count (4.2±2.0% and 4±1, respectively) than other tumours (0.7±0.2% and 1±0, respectively; p<0.05). The strongest correlations with tumoural staging were seen with male sex and high mitotic activity. Six out of the 12 invasive BRC-resistant macroprolactinomas, including the PRL secreting carcinoma, exhibited histological features of aggressiveness (a mitotic count ≥3 [i.e. in the fourth quartile] and/or a high Ki-67 LI and cellular atypia).Conclusions. In this surgical retrospective series, histological signs of aggressiveness are present in 50% of invasive and BRC-resistant prolactinomas, which are more frequent in men than in women. This fits with the behaviour of BRC-resistant prolactinomas, which can continue to grow despite DA treatment. These findings justify the long-term follow up of these tumours, and the use of surgery and/or radiotherapy if there is concern about the control of tumour growth.     

Prolactin-secreting adenomas: the preoperative response to bromocriptine treatment and surgical outcome

Controversy exists regarding the effects of bromocriptine on the success of transsphenoidal surgery for patients with prolactinomas. Various studies on this drug have reported adverse effects, improvement, and no effect upon the subsequent surgical outcome. The authors have retrospectively reviewed the case histories of 55 patients with immunocytochemically confirmed prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas operated on by a transsphenoidal approach between 1981 and 1985. All patients had received bromocriptine in a variety of doses and for variable durations prior to surgery. Thirty-nine patients were women and 16 were men, with an age range of 8 to 72 years. Basal prolactin levels prior to bromocriptine treatment ranged from 38 to 100 ng/ml in 11 patients, from 101 to 200 ng/ml in 12, and greater than 200 ng/ml in 29. The "cure" rates were 54%, 58%, and 38%, respectively. Thirty-one patients had microadenomas, with a postoperative cure rate of 68%; 12 had diffuse expansive adenomas, with a 17% cure rate; and 12 had grossly invasive tumors, with a 17% cure rate. A response to preoperative bromocriptine therapy was defined as a return of the basal prolactin level to normal: 18 patients were responders and 29 were hyporesponders; in eight the data were not available. The postoperative cure rate was 50% for the responders and 31% for the hyporesponders. Taking into account the distribution of tumor type, there was no actual difference in outcome between the responder and the hyporesponder groups. The total bromocriptine dose received preoperatively was nearly identical for all groups. No significant differences in the frequency or extent of fibrosis, calcification, or prolactin immunoreactivity were observed in the 55 patients when compared with 26 control prolactinomas not treated with bromocriptine. It is concluded that short-term bromocriptine treatment does not adversely affect surgical outcome in any of the prolactin-secreting adenoma groups, nor does response or lack of response to bromocriptine predict surgical outcome.     

Gamma knife radiosurgery for pituitary adenoma: early results

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) has emerged as an important treatment modality in the management of pituitary adenomas. Treatment results after performing GKRS and the complications of this procedure are reviewed. METHODS: Between 1994 and 2002, a total of 78 patients with pituitary adenomas underwent a total of 84 GKRS procedures in our medical center. This patient group comprised 46 men (59%) and 32 women (41%). All patients were treated for recurrent or residual disease after surgery or radiotherapy, with 83% presenting with extensive tumor involvement. The cavernous sinus was involved in 75 patients (96%), and 22 patients (28%) had hormone-secreting adenomas. This latter subset of patients included 12 prolactinomas (15%), 6 growth-hormone secreting tumors (8%), and 4 adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting tumors (5%). The median tumor volume was 2.3 cm(3), and the median radiation dose was 15 Gy defined to the 50% isodose line. The mean and median follow-up periods were 41 and 36 months, respectively. RESULTS: GKRS was tolerated well in these patients; acute toxicity was uncommon and of no clinical significance. Late toxicity was noted in three patients (4%) and consisted of VIth cranial nerve palsy. In two patients, there was spontaneous resolution of this palsy, and in one patient, it persisted for the entire 3-year duration of follow-up. Of the 15 patients who presented with cranial nerve dysfunction, 8 (53%) experienced complete recovery and 3 (20%) showed major improvement within 12 months of therapy. Tumor volume reduction was slow, with 30% of patients showing decreased tumor volume more than 3 years after undergoing GKRS. None of the 56 patients with nonfunctioning tumors showed progression in the treated volume, and 4 (18%) of the 22 hormone-secreting tumors relapsed (P = 0.008). Of the four patients with adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting adenomas, therapy failed in two of them. All six patients with growth hormone-producing tumors responded well to therapy. Of the 12 patients with prolactinomas 10 (83%) had normalization of hormone level and 2 patients experienced increasing prolactin level. Two patients with prolactinomas had three normal pregnancies after undergoing GKRS. CONCLUSION: GKRS is a safe and effective therapy in selected patients with pituitary adenomas. None of the patients in our study experienced injury to the optic apparatus. A radiation dose higher than 15 Gy is probably needed to improve control of hormone-secreting adenomas. Longer follow-up is required for a more complete assessment of late toxicity and treatment efficacy.     

Microprolactinoma invading the cavernous sinus--report of three cases.

Three cases of microprolactinoma with cavernous sinus invasion on magnetic resonance imaging are reported. High-resolution computed tomographic scans did not demonstrate the cavernous sinus involvement. Magnetic resonance imaging is indispensable to detect cavernous sinus invasion before treatment (transsphenoidal surgery or bromocriptine treatment) of a microprolactinoma.     

Extended transsphenoidal approach for surgical management of pituitary adenomas invading the cavernous sinus

OBJECTIVES: The authors devised an extended transsphenoidal approach involving a submucosal posterior ethmoidectomy that allows for adequate exposure of the cavernous sinus. To evaluate the adequacy of this approach for removal of adenomas invading the cavernous sinus, the authors retrospectively analyzed the surgical outcomes obtained in treated patients. METHODS: During a 9-year period, 36 patients with pituitary adenomas extending into the cavernous sinus underwent tumor removal at Kinki University Hospital. In the authors' technique of extended transsphenoidal surgery, the inferior wall of the affected cavernous sinus was entirely exposed, not only to permit safe removal of the tumor but also to secure the petrous portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA). For prevention of intraoperative injury to the cranial nerves, a low-profile pressure sensor was attached on the eyelid to detect eye movements in response to electrical stimulation of the cranial nerves. RESULTS: Total or subtotal tumor removal was achieved in 72% of 36 patients. In eight (67%) of 12 patients with growth hormone-secreting adenomas, hormonal remission was achieved postoperatively. Postoperative transient double vision was observed in 27% of the patients, but no serious complications, such as permanent cranial nerve palsy or ICA injury, occurred. CONCLUSIONS: These reasonable surgical results obtained in the present series of patients suggest that the extended transsphenoidal approach is safe and effective for removal of adenomas within the cavernous sinus. These preliminary results may lead to a reevaluation of the role of surgery as the therapeutic strategy for invasive pituitary adenomas.     

The neurosurgical management of prolactinomas

BACKGROUND: The objective was to discuss the neurosurgical management of the prolactinomas. METHODS: Five-hundred-fifty patients suffering from prolactinoma were treated with trans-sphenoidal and transcranial approach. The diagnosis of prolactinoma was based on various degree of high level prolactinemia, galactorrhea, gonodal disturbance, neurological examination and radiological findings. In all cases the adenoma was histologically verified. The patients were investigated according to the anatomo-radiological classification of Hardy and Vesina, and the range of preoperative PRL basal levels. RESULTS: Follow-up was ascertained in 81% of patients who were followed for a mean of 7.2 year (1-10 year). While the total removal percentage was 98% in the group with microprolactinoma, this ratio dropped to 63.9% for macroadenomas and 23.5% for giant adenomas. Early improvement of prolactin level ratio was 81.6% in microprolactinomas, 28.3 in macroadenomas and 11.7% in giant adenomas. Hormonal cure was 64.3% in microadenomas, 6.7% in macroadenomas and 0% in giant adenomas. The ratio of hormonal cure was decreasing in patients with high prolactin levels. In the follow-up recurrence of prolactinomas occurred in 39% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Medical treatment is the first step in prolactin secreting adenomas. Trans-sphenoidal microsurgery became popular in treatment of prolactinomas because of low operative morbidity and mortality. Patients with recurrence should be evaluated for second step treatment (surgery, bromocriptine, or radiotherapy).     

Giant pituitary tumors: a study based on surgical treatment of 118 cases

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to analyze the nature, extensions, and dural relationships of hormonally inactive giant pituitary tumors. The relevance of the anatomic relationships to surgery is analyzed. METHODS: There were 118 cases of hormonally inactive pituitary tumors analyzed with the maximum dimension of more than 4 cm. These cases were surgically treated in our neurosurgical department from 1995 to 2002. Depending on the anatomic extensions and the nature of their meningeal coverings, these tumors were divided into 4 grades. The grades reflected an increasing order of invasiveness of adjacent dural and arachnoidal compartments. The strategy and outcome of surgery and radiotherapy was analyzed for these 4 groups. Average duration of follow-up was 31 months. RESULTS: There were 54 giant pituitary tumors, which remained within the confines of sellar dura and under the diaphragma sellae and did not enter into the compartment of cavernous sinus (Grade I). Transgression of the medial wall and invasion into the compartment of the cavernous sinus (Grade II) was seen in 38 cases. Elevation of the dura of the superior wall of the cavernous sinus and extension of this elevation into various compartments of brain (Grade III) was observed in 24 cases. Supradiaphragmatic-subarachnoid extension (Grade IV) was seen in 2 patients. The majority of patients were treated by transsphenoidal route. CONCLUSIONS: Giant pituitary tumors usually have a meningeal cover and extend into well-defined anatomic pathways. Radical surgery by a transsphenoidal route is indicated and possible in Grade I-III pituitary tumors. Such a strategy offers a reasonable opportunity for recovery in vision and a satisfactory postoperative and long-term outcome. Biopsy of the tumor followed by radiotherapy could be suitable for Grade IV pituitary tumors.     

Radiosurgery for hemangiomas of the cavernous sinus and orbit: technical case report

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Hemangiomas of neurosurgical interest are histologically benign vascular tumors that most often occur in the orbit or cavernous sinus. Hemangiomas can be diagnosed by their characteristic radiographic and angiographic appearance and their tendency to bleed excessively during attempted removal. Intracranial or intraorbital hemangiomas require treatment when they become symptomatic. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: We report four hemangioma patients who presented with ocular symptoms or signs, such as orbital pain, ophthalmoplegia, proptosis, or impaired visual acuity. Before our evaluation, two patients had each had incomplete resections aborted because of excessive blood loss, one patient had undergone a nondiagnostic transsphenoidal biopsy, and one patient had had an unsuccessful embolization. INTERVENTION: All four patients were treated with gamma knife radiosurgery. Tumors received a minimal tumor dose that ranged from 14 to 19 Gy. Follow-up evaluations were performed 6 to 24 months after radiosurgery and revealed a reduction in tumor volume in three patients and no tumor progression in the fourth. All patients had symptomatic improvement, but one had persistent diplopia. CONCLUSION: In this early experience, stereotactic radiosurgery proved to be an effective management strategy that avoided the potentially serious complications associated with surgery or embolization of cavernous sinus hemangiomas.     

Pituitary adenomas: results of 684 surgically treated patients and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: The outcome of patients with pituitary adenomas who were treated surgically with or without postoperative radiotherapy was analyzed. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that strongly influence (A) tumor control, (B) the efficacy of surgery, and (C) radiotherapy based on the hormonal activity of adenomas and its invasion characteristics. METHODS: Between 1982-1996, 684 patients with the diagnosis of pituitary adenoma were operated on. The mean age was 38 years and the mean follow-up time was 40.5 months. A total of 516 patients who were followed for more than 1 year were studied to analyze the effect of treatment modalities and invasion characteristics on tumor control. There were 297 patients with prolactinomas, 118 patients with somatotropinomas, 45 with corticotropinomas, 17 with mixed adenomas, two with thyrotropinomas, and 205 with null cell adenomas. All patients were classified according to Hardy's modified radiological classification scheme and analyzed in invasive and noninvasive groups individually based on this classification system. In the early postoperative period, 230 of these patients were given conventional radiotherapy with a mean dose of 4400 cGy. The following factors were analyzed for prognostic significance in tumor control: the effects of surgery and radiotherapy based on tumor types and invasion characteristics, the existence of histologically proven invasion of the dura mater overlying the sellar floor, and the early results of topical bromocriptine application in macroprolactinoma patients. RESULTS: Overall surgical complications and mortality rate were similar to those of large series reported in the literature. Except for the invasive somatotropinomas and null cell adenomas, statistical analysis demonstrated the ineffectiveness of radiotherapy on tumor control. We did not detect any positive correlation between the recurrence rate and mean recurrence time or dural invasion of the sellar floor. Topical bromocriptine application seemed to improve tumor control in 21 selected macroprolactinoma patients. CONCLUSION: Conventional radiotherapy is not as effective as expected, considering its adverse effects. The increased side effects of radiotherapy in cases with supra-parasellar extension, especially to the optic pathway and hypothalamus, limit its benefits, which could be demonstrated only in invasive somatotropinomas and null cell adenomas. In contrast with our current beliefs, tumoral infiltration of the sellar dura mater is not a prognostic factor for recurrence and therefore should not be a criterion for radiotherapy after surgery. Topical application of bromocriptine into the sellar cavity after tumor removal seems to provide superior results compared with the conventional treatment modalities.     

Limited endoscopic transsphenoidal approach for cavernous sinus biopsy: Illustration of 3 cases and discussion

Advances in transsphenoidal surgery and endoscopic techniques have opened new perspectives for cavernous sinus (CS) approaches. The aim of this study was to assess the advantages and disadvantages of limited endoscopic transsphenoidal approach, as performed in pituitary adenoma surgery, for CS tumor biopsy illustrated with three clinical cases. The first case was a 46-year-old woman with a prior medical history of parotid adenocarcinoma successfully treated 10 years previously. The cavernous sinus tumor was revealed by right third and sixth nerve palsy and increased over the past three years. A tumor biopsy using a limited endoscopic transsphenoidal approach revealed an adenocarcinoma metastasis. Complementary radiosurgery was performed. The second case was a 36-year-old woman who consulted for diplopia with right sixth nerve palsy and amenorrhea with hyperprolactinemia. Dopamine agonist treatment was used to restore the patient's menstrual cycle. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a right sided CS tumor. CS biopsy, via a limited endoscopic transsphenoidal approach, confirmed a meningothelial grade 1 meningioma. Complementary radiosurgery was performed. The third case was a 63-year-old woman with progressive installation of left third nerve palsy and visual acuity loss, revealing a left cavernous sinus tumor invading the optic canal. Surgical biopsy was performed using an enlarged endoscopic transsphenoidal approach to the decompress optic nerve. Biopsy results revealed a meningothelial grade 1 meningioma. Complementary radiotherapy was performed. In these three cases, no complications were observed. Mean hospitalization duration was 4 days. Reported anatomical studies and clinical series have shown the feasibility of reaching the cavernous sinus using an endoscopic endonasal approach. Trans-foramen ovale CS percutaneous biopsy is an interesting procedure but only provides cell analysis results, and not tissue analysis. However, radiotherapy and radiosurgery have proven effective for SC meningiomas. When histological diagnosis is required, limited endoscopic transsphenoidal approach appears as a safe, fast, and useful alternative to the classical endocranial approach. Also, a tailored enlargement of the approach could be performed if optic nerve decompression is required. The feasibility of CS endoscopic transsphenoidal biopsy has prompted us to consider CS biopsy when the diagnosis of CS meningioma is uncertain.