Transsphenoidal endoscopic skull base surgery: state of the art and future perspective

Abstract

Abstract Given refinements in endoscopic image quality, instrumentation, surgical navigation, skull base closure techniques and anatomical understanding, the endonasal endoscopic approach is now a well-accepted and widely utilized technique for removal of many if not most midline ventral skull base tumors. Pituitary adenomas and Rathke’s cleft cysts (RCCs) constitute the majority of lesions removed via this route; however, craniopharyngiomas, clival chordomas, midline meningiomas and other benign and malignant skull base tumors are now increasingly removed by this approach. Herein we describe the evolution of the endonasal endoscopic technique, its current use for sellar and midline skull base tumors and potential for future innovation.