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

OBJECTIVETo summary the microsurgical techniques for removal of huge tuberculum sellae meningiomas through the bi-subfrontal anterior longitudinal fission approach.

METHODSEleven patients with huge tuberculum sellae meningiomas underwent microsurgical removal of the meningiomas between January, 2005 and November, 2009. The microsurgical techniques were summarized, and the factors affecting the prognosis were analyzed.

RESULTSAmong all the patients, 5 had Simpson grade I meningioma removal and the other patients had Simpson grade II removal. No death occurred in these patients. Nine patients showed vision improvement after the surgery, one had no significant improvement, and the other one experienced worsening of vision. Transient postoperative diabetes insipidus occurred in 5 cases.

CONCLUSIONWith satisfactory exposure of Dorsum sellae, bottom of the third ventricle and cavernous sinus, the bi-subfrontal anterior longitudinal fission approach is suggested for treatment of tuberculum sellae meningiomas. The key to improve the GTR and reduce the complication lies in the sequence of the operation, namely resection of the tumoral basement before dissection of the potential arachnoidal space and tuberculum.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Meningioma ; pathology ; surgery ; Microsurgery ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Sella Turcica ; pathology ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDTuberculum sellae meningiomas (TSMs) present a special symptom because of the adherence and compression to the optic nerve, optic artery, and the chiasm. A significant number of patients with TSMs appear visual deficits. This study aimed to investigate the surgical indications of exploring the optic canal and visual prognostic factors in the neurosurgical treatment of TSMs.

METHODSTotally 21 patients with TSM, who were operated from September 2007 to August 2011 in the Department of Neurosurgery, Tongren Hospital were enrolled in this study. Results of orbital computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), visual acuity, Goldmann visual field test, orbital color Doppler flow imaging (CDI) test in these patients were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSVisual deficit and optic canal involvement (OCI) were detected in all the 21 patients. Fourteen patients had bone proliferation within the area of the optic canal. After the operation, visual outcomes were improved in 13 patients, unchanged in 7 patients, and deteriorated in 1 patient. All the 21 patients performed orbital CDI test preoperatively, the results showed that if the peak systolic velocity (PSV) of central retinal artery (CRA) value was ≤ 8 cm/s, the visual outcome would be better.

CONCLUSIONSThe surgical indications of exploring optic canal in TSM cases included: (1) The neuroimaging evidences of OCI (CT and/or MRI); (2) PSV of CRA in orbital CDI test was ≤ 8 cm/s; (3) visual acuity was below 0.1; (4) visual field deficit. The PSV of CRA in CDI test could be a prognostic factor for visual outcomes of TSMs.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Meningioma ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Sella Turcica ; pathology ; surgery ; Skull Base Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Visual Acuity

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

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical and imaging characteristics of patients with cystic lesions in sella region and to describe the experience of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery.

METHODSFourty-six cases of cystic lesions in sella region confirmed by surgery and pathology between June 2003 and September 2013 were retrospectively analysed. The clinical features, imaging, surgical technique and postoperative recurrence in 46 cases were presented.

RESULTSAll lesions were resected through transsphenoidal endoscopic endonasal approach. Followed up lasted from 6 months to 6 years. Postoperatively, headache was recovered in 26 cases and wasn't recovered in 8 cases, visual was improved in 12 cases and wasn't improved in 2 cases, hypopituitarism was relieved in 18 cases and wasn't relieved in 15 cases, polyuria was disappeared in 8 cases and wasn't disappeared in 4 cases. Seven cases recurred, including 4 cases of craniopharyngioma, 2 cases of pituitary abscess, 1 case of cystic adenoma. There were no death and serious complication. The small age of onset, visual acuity and visual field symptoms, tumor in suprasellar, third ventricle compression was easy to occur in craniopharyngioma; cystic tumor, cavernous sinus invasion, the solid part homogeneous enhancement could be seen in cystic adenoma; Rathke cyst showed simple cystic, lighter clinical symptoms and a short course. Prone to diabetes insipidus, low multiple hormone level and the lesions of annular enhancement was more common in pituitary abscess.

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical features and imaging of cystic lesions in sella region feature overlap each other, but there are certain specificity. Transsphenoidal endoscopic endonasal approach for the surgery of cystic lesions in sella is effective and safe.

Abscess ; complications ; Adenoma ; complications ; Craniopharyngioma ; complications ; Cysts ; surgery ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Headache ; complications ; Humans ; Hypopituitarism ; complications ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Nose ; Pituitary Diseases ; surgery ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Sella Turcica ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the factors contributing to the occurrence of diabetes insipidus after operations for craniopharyngiomas.

METHODSA total of 121 cases of diabetes insipidus following surgeries for craniopharyngiomas were retrospectively analyzed and the factors associated with postoperative diabetes insipidus were analyzed.

RESULTSThe incidence of diabetes insipidus was 27.3% (33/121 cases) before the operation, 89.9% (107/1119) early after the operation and 39.8%(37/93) in later stages after the operation. The occurrence of early postoperative diabetes insipidus showed a significant relation to the classification and calcification of the craniopharyngioma. Patients with supradiaphragmatic and extraventricular tumors had the lowest incidence of postoperative diabetes insipidus. Late postoperative diabetes insipidus was closely correlated to such factors as age, classification of craniopharyngioma, and intraoperative treatment of the pituitary stalk, but not to the scope of tumor resection or tumor calcification. Late diabetes insipidus was more frequent in children and patients with severed pituitary stalk. The incidence of late postoperative diabetes insipidus was significantly higher in patients with supradiaphragmatic and extra-intraventricular tumors than in those with tumors beneath the diaphragma sellae and extraventricular tumors.

CONCLUSIONSPostoperative diabetes insipidus following surgeries for craniopharyngiomas is closely related to the tumor classification, calcification and pituitary stalk protection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Craniopharyngioma ; pathology ; surgery ; Diabetes Insipidus ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; blood ; etiology ; Regression Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sella Turcica ; Young Adult