Endoscope-assisted supraorbital keyhole approach for the resection of benign tumors of the sellar region.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the supraorbital "keyhole" approach with endoscope assistance in surgical treatment of benign tumors around the sellar region. Thirty-five patients, including 19 pituitary tumors, 11 craniopharyngiomas and five tuberculum sellae meningiomas, were enrolled in this study. The tumors were resected through an endoscope-assisted supraorbital keyhole approach via a small skin incision within the eyebrow. Complete removal of the sellar region tumors was achieved in all 35 cases by endoscope-assisted supraorbital keyhole approach. Mean length of hospital stay after surgery was 10.2 days (range 5 - 17). There was no patient with evidence of residual or recurrent tumor during the follow-up period. There was no infection, bleeding, further vision impairment, oculomotor nerve injury or other cranial nerve injury symptom owing to surgery. Though some patients suffered from insipidus, hyperprolactinemia, subcutaneous edema or other postoperative complications, they eventually recovered with or without drug administration. The supraorbital "keyhole" approach with endoscopic assistance in the surgical treatment of benign tumors around the sellar region is an ideal pattern.