Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Approach for Resection of Tuberculum Sella and Planum Sphenoidale Meningiomas: A Snapshot of Our Institutional Experience

INTRODUCTION: Meningiomas of the tuberculum sellae and planum sphenoidale represent a subgroup of anterior skull base tumors that comprise approximately 5%–10% of all intracranial meningiomas. Most of the patients report with failing vision, so early surgical decompression either transcranial and/or endonasal approach is recommended. The endonasal route allows for direct coagulation of the tumor meningeal supply and extensive resection of dural attachments, and importantly, provides an inferior to superior access to the infrachiasmatic region that facilitates complete tumor removal without encountering the optic nerve. This article describes our institutional experience for the endonasal resection of tuberculum sellae and planum sphenoidale meningiomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed eight cases of tuberculum sellae and planum sphenoidale meningiomas who selectively underwent endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal resection between 2015 and 2018. All patients had ophthalmological, endocrinological, and radiological evaluation both preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: Among the study group, we found age range 22–68 years, male:female 1:2. Among the radiological findings, there were five cases of tuberculum sellae meningioma, while three cases were of planum sphenoidale meningioma. In tumor resection status, we found gross total resection in six cases and debulking in two cases. Postoperative analysis of visual outcome revealed improvement in four cases, constant in three cases, and worsening in one case. We also found the post of nasal complications in four cases, cerebrospinal fluid leak in two cases and transient diabetes insipidus in one case. CONCLUSION: In this study, we highlighted our experience of a very small group of patients with anterior fossa meningioma specific to tuberculum sella and planum sphenoidale origin.