Mario Giordano1, Venelin M Gerganov2, Massimo Gallieni2, Amir Samii3, Madjid Samii2. 1. International Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: giordano.nch@gmail.com. 2. International Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover, Germany. 3. International Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover, Germany; Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We present the findings of our prospective study assessing olfactory function outcome in patients undergoing a frontolateral approach for the resection of suprasellar lesions. METHODS: Eighteen consecutive patients (7 females, 11 males) surgically treated at our institute for suprasellar tumors were included in this prospective study. Olfactory function was evaluated at the admission and 14 days after the surgery using the standard 12-item "Sniffin' Sticks" screening (SSS) test. The olfactory outcome was correlated to the following variables: tumor type, size, consistency, and extent of vertical and lateral growth. RESULTS: Preoperative and postoperative SSS test mean values were, respectively, 9.11 and 8.72 (not significant: P = 0.274). In only 1 case (5%), with larger suprasellar extension, the difference between preoperative and postoperative SSS was ≥3 (reduction of 5 points). At the subjective evaluation, no patient stated a deficit in smelling. CONCLUSION: The frontolateral craniotomy is a minimally invasive route to treat suprasellar tumors and has a low approach-related morbidity. It allows tumor resection with low risk for the olfactory function. A risk factor for postoperative olfactory deficit could be significant brain retraction.
OBJECTIVE: We present the findings of our prospective study assessing olfactory function outcome in patients undergoing a frontolateral approach for the resection of suprasellar lesions. METHODS: Eighteen consecutive patients (7 females, 11 males) surgically treated at our institute for suprasellar tumors were included in this prospective study. Olfactory function was evaluated at the admission and 14 days after the surgery using the standard 12-item "Sniffin' Sticks" screening (SSS) test. The olfactory outcome was correlated to the following variables: tumor type, size, consistency, and extent of vertical and lateral growth. RESULTS: Preoperative and postoperative SSS test mean values were, respectively, 9.11 and 8.72 (not significant: P = 0.274). In only 1 case (5%), with larger suprasellar extension, the difference between preoperative and postoperative SSS was ≥3 (reduction of 5 points). At the subjective evaluation, no patient stated a deficit in smelling. CONCLUSION: The frontolateral craniotomy is a minimally invasive route to treat suprasellar tumors and has a low approach-related morbidity. It allows tumor resection with low risk for the olfactory function. A risk factor for postoperative olfactory deficit could be significant brain retraction.
Authors: Sascha Marx; Ioanna Tsavdaridou; Sebastian Paul; Antje Steveling; Cornelia Schirmer; Marton Eördögh; Stephan Nowak; Marc Matthes; Ehab El Refaee; Steffen K Fleck; Joerg Baldauf; Markus M Lerch; Andreas Stahl; Werner Hosemann; Henry W S Schroeder Journal: Neurosurg Rev Date: 2020-07-10 Impact factor: 3.042