The expanded endoscopic endonasal approach for treatment of tuberculum sellae meningiomas in a series of 40 consecutive cases

Compared with traditional craniotomy, the expanded endoscopic endonasal approach (EEEA) may have some advantages for tuberculum sellae meningioma (TSM) treatment. We described our experience of the therapeutic effect of endoscopic TSM treatment. From August 2015 to December 2019, 40 patients with a TSM were treated by the EEEA in our institution. EEEA outcome in TSM treatment was analyzed. Among 39 patients with visual impairment, 38 (97.4%) improved their visual function to some extent after the EEEA, and one case had no significant change in visual acuity. Among all patients, 38 (95.0%) achieved gross total resection (GTR) and 2 (5.0%) achieved near-total resection (NTR). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage occurred in three patients (7.5%) and meningitis (post-CSF leakage) in two patients (5.0%). Eight patients (20.0%) suffered postoperative hyposmia, three of whom developed long-term hyposmia. One patient (2.5%) suffered from bleeding of the branch of the anterior cerebral artery intraoperatively leading to postoperative acute cerebral infarction. The EEEA is a safe and reliable minimally invasive method for TSM removal. Compared with traditional craniotomy, the EEEA may have better visual outcomes and a higher prevalence of GTR, but carries the risk of CSF leakage.