Adult ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Gonadotrophs ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; surgery

Most intrasellar meningiomas are located in the subdiaphragmatic and supraglandular region because they originate from the diaphragma sellae. Subglandular meningiomas located under the pituitary gland are extremely rare. Intrasellar meningiomas in the subdiaphragmatic and subglandular region probably originate from the dura in the sellar floor. We report a case of a subglandular meningioma along with a review of the literature.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Meningioma/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Sella Turcica/*pathology

BACKGROUNDVarious surgical approaches for the removal of sellar region lesions have previously been described. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and safety of the frontolateral approach (FLA) to remove sellar region lesions.

METHODSWe presented a retrospective study of 79 patients with sellar region lesions who were admitted and operated by the FLA approach from August 2011 to August 2015 in Department of Neurosurgery of Beijing Tian Tan Hospital. We classified FLA into three types, compared the FLA types to the areas of lesion invasion, and analyzed operation bleeding volume, gross total resection (GTR) rate, visual outcome, and mortality.

RESULTSSeventy-nine patients were followed up from 2.9 to 50.3 months with a mean follow-up of 20.5 months. There were 42 cases of meningiomas, 25 cases of craniopharyngiomas, and 12 cases of pituitary adenomas. The mean follow-up Karnofsky Performance Scale was 90.4. GTR was achieved in 75 patients (94.9%). Two patients (2.5%) had tumor recurrence. No patients died perioperatively or during short-term follow-up. Three patients (3.8%) with craniopharyngioma died 10, 12, and 23 months, respectively, after surgery. The operative bleeding volume of this study was no more than that of the other approaches in the sellar region (P = 0.783). In this study, 35 patients (44.3%) had visual improvement after surgery, 38 patients (48.1%) remained unchanged, and three patients' visual outcome (3.8%) worsened.

CONCLUSIONSFLA was an effective approach in the treatment of sellar region lesions with good preservation of visual function. FLA classification enabled tailored craniotomies for each patient according to the anatomic site of tumor invasion. This study found that FLA had similar outcomes to other surgical approaches of sellar region lesions.

Adult ; Craniopharyngioma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningioma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Skull Base ; pathology

BACKGROUNDCraniopharyngioma of the third ventricle is difficult to treat and its therapeutic regimens and operative approaches have been controversial. This study was undertaken to probe indications for microsurgical resection of craniopharyngioma of the third ventricle via an improved transventricular approach, its surgical procedures and therapeutic effects, and prevention of postoperative complications.

METHODSFifty-one patients with craniopharyngioma of the third ventricle were treated from January 2000 to October 2004 by an improved transventricular approach for removing the tumor via the interventricular foramen, the intermedius of the septum pellucidum or choroid fissure. Symptoms and signs of the patients, and results of imaging, operation, and follow-up were analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 51 patients who had received the improved transventricular resection, 4 underwent a combined approach with an entrance of the pterion. Forty patients (78.43%) underwent total resection and others subtotal resection, without an operative death. Epileptic seizures were found in 3 patients (5.88%) and subdural effusion in the operative field in 4 (7.84%). All patients showed good general conditions after operation, and follow-up for an average of 27.52 months showed relapse of the tumour in 8 patients (15.69%).

CONCLUSIONSMicrosurgical resection of craniopharyngioma of the third ventricle by an improved transventricular approach has advantages of operative safety and efficacy, lower mortality and disability, and less complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Craniopharyngioma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Third Ventricle

Brain ; blood supply ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; cerebrospinal fluid ; complications ; diagnosis ; Stroke ; cerebrospinal fluid ; complications ; diagnosis ; Tuberculosis ; cerebrospinal fluid ; complications ; diagnosis

Adenoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Optic Chiasm ; pathology ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Recurrence ; Treatment Outcome

We report a rare case of petroclival craniopharyngioma with no connection to the sellar or suprasellar region. MRI and CT images revealed a homogenously enhancing retroclival solid mass with aggressive skull base destruction, mimicking chordoma or aggressive sarcoma. However, there was no calcification or cystic change found in the mass. Here, we report the clinical features and radiographic investigation of this uncommon craniopharyngioma arising primarily in the petroclival region.
Cranial Fossa, Posterior/*pathology/radiography/surgery ; Craniopharyngioma/*diagnosis/radiography/surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms/*diagnosis/radiography/surgery ; Skull Base Neoplasms/*diagnosis/radiography/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Intrasellar location of schwannoma is extremely rare, although intracranial schwannomas account for up to 8% of all primary brain tumors. An unusual case of an intrasellar schwannoma radiographically and clinically simulating a pituitary adenoma is reported. A 39-yr-old man presented a 10-month history of visual disturbance and decreased libido. Neurological examination showed poor visual acuity of both eyes with bitemporal hemianopsia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a sellar tumor with suprasellar extension. Pituitary adenoma was considered as a preoperative diagnosis. The tumor was removed through a trans-sphenoidal approach. Microscopic examination of the tumor revealed schwannoma.
Adult ; Brain Neoplasms/diagnosis/metabolism/*pathology/surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neurilemmoma/diagnosis/metabolism/*pathology/surgery ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Prolactinoma ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Visual Fields

Adenoma ; pathology ; Brain Neoplasms ; secondary ; Chromogranin A ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Reoperation ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism ; Temporal Lobe ; pathology

Central diabetes insipidus (DI) can be the outcome of a number of diseases that affect the hypothalamic-neurohypophyseal axis. The causes of the condition can be classified as traumatic, inflammatory, or neoplastic. Traumatic causes include postoperative sella or transection of the pituitary stalk, while infectious or inflammatory causes include meningitis, lymphocytic hypophysitis, and granulomatous inflammations such as sarcoidosis and Wegener's granulomatosis. Various neoplastic conditions such as germinoma, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, metastasis, leukemic infiltration, lymphoma, teratoma, pituitary adenoma, craniopharyngioma, Rathke cleft cyst, hypothalamic glioma, and meningioma are also causes of central DI. In affected patients, careful analysis of these MR imaging features and correlation with the clinical manifestations can allow a more specific diagnosis, which is essential for treatment.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Diabetes Insipidus, Neurogenic/diagnosis/etiology/*pathology ; Female ; Human ; Inflammation/complications ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Age ; Neoplasms/complications ; Pituitary Gland, Posterior/injuries/pathology ; Sella Turcica/pathology/surgery