Endoscopic endonasal anterior extended transsphenoidal approach in craniopharyngioma surgery.

The paper describes results of treatment of 56 patients with suprasellar craniopharyngioma (stem, intra-extraventricular) who were operated in Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute using endoscopic endonasal anterior extended transsphenoidal approach. Assessed dynamics of major clinical syndromes (neuro-ophthalmological symptoms, neurological and hormonal status), radicality of surgery, incidence and nature of postoperative complications, postoperative mortality. A comparative analysis of the results obtained in previous studies of our Institute, as well as with those of foreign authors is performed. Obtained data show that endoscopic endonasal anterior extended transsphenoidal approach in craniopharyngioma surgery is an efficient and non-traumatic technique, capable of providing a radical removal of the tumor along with a high quality of life after surgery, and relatively low rates of postoperative complications and mortality.