Lateral supraorbital approach applied to sellar tumors in 23 consecutive patients: the Suzhou experience from China

BACKGROUND Pituitary adenoma, craniopharyngioma and meningioma are common sellar lesions, accounting for more than 90% of sellar tumors. The aim of this study is to assess the reliability and safety of the lateral supraorbital (LSO) approach to remove sellar tumors. METHODS Between June 2011 and December 2011, 23 patients with neoplastic lesions underwent surgery by the corresponding author (ZW) via the LSO approach. The clinical presentations, neuroradiological findings, microsurgical techniques, and outcome at discharge of these patients were analyzed. In addition, the clinical series in the available literature written in English were also extensively reviewed. Eleven (48%) patients were treated for pituitary adenoma; six (26%) patients for tuberculum sellae meningioma; and six (26%) patients for craniopharyngioma. RESULTS Seemingly complete tumor removal was achieved in 21 patients (91%); surgical mortality was one patient (4.3%). Postoperatively, no patient had developed cerebrospinal fluid leakage or new visual deficits. One (4%) patient had intracranial infection, and one (4%) had a postoperative hematoma. The median Karnofsky score at discharge was 87.4 (range, 0 to 100). The Glasgow outcome scale at discharge was 4.6 (range, 1 to 5). Of all, 21 (91.3%) patients achieved favorable outcomes. CONCLUSION Sellar tumors can be removed via the LSO approach with relatively low morbidity and mortality. Surgical results with this fast and simple approach are similar to those obtained with more extensive, complex, and time-consuming approaches.