“The most formidable of intracranial tumors” Harvey Cushing (1932) Introduction The introduction of the transsphenoidal approach to the pituitary fossa by Schloffer in 1907 revolutionized the management of pituitary pathology….
Introduction Since the first attempts to remove pituitary tumors through the transsphenoidal approach almost a century ago, it became clear that one of the main challenges was to create an…
Introduction The sellar and parasellar region is a complex and relatively small intersection of endocrine, neural, vascular, meningeal, and skeletal structures. Various types of mass lesions, inflammatory processes, cysts, and…
Introduction Pituitary adenomas are very common lesions and represent between 10% and 20% of all primary brain tumors. Autopsy and imaging studies have demonstrated that nearly 20% of the general…
Introduction Although pituitary and sellar region tumors are relatively rare in infancy and childhood (overall incidence rate of approximately 0.5 per 100,000 person years), these tumors still account for up…
The Sellar Region The pituitary gland and sella are located below the center of the brain in the center of the skull base ( Figure 10-1 ). Access to the…
History Herman Schloffer, according to Liu et al, performed the first successful modern transsphenoidal approach for a pituitary tumor in March of 1907. It was a tedious three-stage procedure, with…
Introduction Pituitary metastases are an uncommon manifestation of systemic cancer and usually a marker of terminal disease. With improved survival for various types of cancer and with the use of…
Introduction Since the repopularization of the transsphenoidal approach by Guiot and Hardy, most surgeons have adopted this technique as the primary method for the removal of pituitary adenomas. Following the…
Introduction Tumors of the pituitary gland and sellar region represent approximately 10% to 15% of all brain tumors. Several types of tumors may involve the sellar region, reflecting its complex…
