Results of Endocrine Function after Transsphenoidal Surgery for Non-functional Pituitary Macroadenomas

Aim:The aim of this study was to assess changes to endocrine pituitary function following pituitary macroadenoma surgery and to compare the microscopic and endoscopic techniques. Methods: A study group included patients with nonfunctional pituitary macroadenoma undergoing microscopic or endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal approach at the Department of Neurosurgery of the University Hospital in Olomouc. All patients underwent neurologic, radiologic and endocrinology examination before and after surgery. All data were retrospectively reviewed and both techniques were statistically compared. Results: A total of 78 patients were included in this study. In patients without preoperative hormonal abnormalities, postoperative deficit occurred more often in the microscope group (47.4%) compared to endoscopic group (40%) but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.761). In patients with a preoperative hormonal abnormality, postoperative deterioration of hormonal functions was more frequent again in the microscope-operated (70%) compared to the endoscopic group (21.4%), the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.015). Conclusion: In our study, endoscopic technique achieves better postoperative results of pituitary hormonal functions compared to microscopic techniques, particularly in patients with preoperative hormonal abnormality.