Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The History of Trans-sphenoidal Surgery for Pituitary Tumours

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Transsphenoidal Surgery

Abstract

The development of pituitary surgery has evolved based on a progressive understanding of the pathophysiology of these tumours over the past 100 years. This has been underpinned by improvements in radiological imaging of the pituitary region and the development of immunohistochemistry techniques and more recently molecular genetics. Coupled with improvements in technology, surgical instrumentation and lighting, the operations have evolved and progressively become more refined since first undertaken in the modern era by Hermann Schloffer at the University of Innsbruck. There have been innumerable contributors in this process, of which the major participants will be highlighted in this review.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Apuzzo ML, Heifetz MD, Weiss MH, Kurze T. Neurosurgical endoscopy using the side-viewing telescope. J Neurosurg. 1977;46(3):398–400.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Artico M., Pastore FS, Fraioli B, Giuffre R. The contribution of Davide Giordano (1864–1954) to pituitary surgery: the transglabellar-nasal approach. Neurosurgery. 1998;42(4):909–11; discussion 911–2.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Atkinson JL, Kasperbauer JL, James EM, Lane JI, Nippoldt TB. Transcranial-transdural real-time ultrasonography during transsphenoidal resection of a large pituitary tumor. Case report. J Neurosurg. 2000;93(1):129–31.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Berkmann S, Schlaffer S, Nimsky C, Fahlbusch R, Buchfelder M. Follow-up and long-term outcome of nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma operated by transsphenoidal surgery with intraoperative high-field magnetic resonance imaging. Acta Neurochir. 2014;156(12):2233–43; discussion 2243.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Berkmann S, Schlaffer S, Nimsky C, Fahlbusch R, Buchfelder M. Intraoperative high-field MRI for transsphenoidal reoperations of nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma. J Neurosurg. 2014;121(5):1166–75.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Cappabianca P, Alfieri A, de Divitiis E. Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach to the sella: towards functional endoscopic pituitary surgery (FEPS). Minim Invasive Neurosurg. 1998;41(2):66–73.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Caton R, Paul FT. Notes of a case of acromegaly treated by operation. Br Med J. 1893;2:1421–3.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Chiari O. Ueber eine Modifikation der Schlofferschen Opera- tion von Tumoren der Hypophyse. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 1912;25:5.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Cohen-Gadol AA, Liu JK, Laws Jr ER. Cushing’s first case of transsphenoidal surgery: the launch of the pituitary surgery era. J Neurosurg. 2005;103(3):570–4.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Cope V. The pituitary fossa, and the methods of surgical approach thereto. Br J Surg. 1916;4:107–44.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Couldwell WT, Weiss MH, Rabb C, Liu JK, Apfelbaum RI, Fukushima T. Variations on the standard transsphenoidal approach to the sellar region, with emphasis on the extended approaches and parasellar approaches: surgical experience in 105 cases. Neurosurgery. 2004;55(3):539–547; discussion 547–50.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Cushing H. The hypophysis cerebri: clinical aspects of hyperpituitarism and of hypopituitarism. JAMA. 1909;53:249–55.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Cushing H. The pituitary body and its disorders: clinical status produced by disorders of the hypophysis cerebri. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott; 1912.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Cushing H. The Weir Mitchell lecture. Surgical experiences with pituitary disorders. JAMA. 1914;63:1515–25.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Dandy W. A new hypophysis operation. Bull Johns Hopkins Hosp. 1918;29:154.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Dandy W. Roentgenography of the brain after the injection of air into the spinal canal. Ann Surg. 1919;70:397–403.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Dott NB, Bailey P. A consideration of the hypophyseal adenomata. Br J Surg. 1925;13:314–66.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Dusick JR, Esposito F, Malkasian D, Kelly DF. Avoidance of carotid artery injuries in transsphenoidal surgery with the Doppler probe and micro-hook blades. Neurosurgery. 2007;60(4 Suppl 2):322–28; discussion 328–9.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Frazier C. An approach to the hypophysis through the anterior cranial fossa. Ann Surg. 1913;57:145–50.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Gilbert H, Hendrick R, Remirez A, Webster 3rd R. A robot for transnasal surgery featuring needle-sized tentacle-like arms. Expert Rev Med Devices. 2014;11(1):5–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Giordano D. Compendio di chirurgia operatoria. Torino: Unione Tipografico-Editrice Torinese; 1897. p. 101–4.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Guiot G, Rougerie J, Fourestler A, et al. Une nouvelle technique endoscopique. Exploration endoscopiques intracraniennes. La Presse Medicale. 1963;71:1225–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Haase S, Pirsig W, Parsche F. Surgical findings in an Egyptian mummy’s skull. Dtsch Z Mund Kiefer Gesichtschir. 1991;15(2):156–60.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Halstead A. Remarks on the operative treatment of tumors of the hypophysis. With the report of two cases operated on by the oronasal method. Trans Am Surg Assoc. 1910;28:73–93.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Hamlin H. Oskar Hirsch. Surg Neurol. 1981;16(6):391–3.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Hardy J. Neuronavigation in pituitary surgery. Surg Neurol. 1999;52:648–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Hardy J. History of pituitary surgery. Neurochirurgie. 2010;56(4):358–62.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Henderson W. The pituitary adenomata. A follow-up study of the surgical results in 338 cases (Dr Harvey Cushing’s series). Br J Surg. 1939;26:811–921.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Heuer G. The surgical approach and the treatment of tumors and other lesions about the optic chiasm. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1931;53:489–518.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Horsley V. On the technique of operations on the central nervous system. BMJ. 1906;2:411–23.

    PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Jankowski R, Auque J, Simon C, Marchal JC, Hepner H, Wayoff M. Endoscopic pituitary tumor surgery. Laryngoscope. 1992;102(2):198–202.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Jho HD, Carrau RL. Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery: experience with 50 patients. J Neurosurg. 1997;87(1):44–51.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Kassam AB, Gardner P, Snyderman C, Mintz A, Carrau R. Expanded endonasal approach: fully endoscopic, completely transnasal approach to the middle third of the clivus, petrous bone, middle cranial fossa, and infratemporal fossa. Neurosurg Focus. 2005;19(1):E6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Kennedy DW, Cohn ES, Papel ID, Holliday MJ. Transsphenoidal approach to the sella: the Johns Hopkins experience. Laryngoscope. 1984;94(8):1066–74.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Kocher T. Ein Fall von Hypophysis tumor mit operativer Heil- ung. Dtsch Z Chir. 1909;100:13–37.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Krause F. Hirnchirurgie. Dtsch Klin. 1905;8:953–1024.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Krause F. Surgery of the brain and spinal cord, based on personal experiences, vol. 1–3. New York: Rebman; 1909–1912.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Krisht KM, Sorour M, Cote M, Hardy J, Couldwell WT. Marching beyond the sella: Gerard Guiot and his contributions to neurosurgery. J Neurosurg. 2015;122(2):464–72.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Lanzino G, Laws Jr ER. Pioneers in the development of transsphenoidal surgery: Theodor Kocher, Oskar Hirsch, and Norman Dott. J Neurosurg. 2001;95(6):1097–103.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Lanzino G, Laws ER, Feiz-Erfan I, White W. Transsphenoidal approach to lesions of the sella turcica: historical overview. Barrow Q. 2002;18:4–8.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Liu JK, Das K, Weiss MH, Laws Jr ER, Couldwell WT. The history and evolution of transsphenoidal surgery. J Neurosurg. 2001;95(6):1083–96.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Luft R, Olivecrona H. Experiences with hypophysectomy in man. J Neurosurg. 1953;10(3):301–16.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Luft R, Olivecrona H. Hypophysectomy in the management of neoplastic disease. Bull N Y Acad Med. 1957;33(1):5–16.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Magrini S, Pasquini E, Mazzatenta D, Mascari C, Galassi E, Frank G. Endoscopic endonasal odontoidectomy in a patient affected by Down syndrome: technical case report. Neurosurgery. 2008;63(2):E373–74; discussion E374.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Marie P. Sur deux cas d’acromégalie: hypertrophie singulière non congénitale, des extrémités supérieures, inférieures, et ceph-alique. Rev Med Liege. 1886;6:297–333.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Minkowski O. On a case of acromegaly [In German]. Berlin Klin Wochenschr. 1887;24:371–4.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Pinheiro-Neto CD, Carrau RL, Prevedello DM, Fernandez-Miranda JC, Snyderman CS, Gardner PA, Kassam AB. Use of acoustic Doppler sonography to ascertain the feasibility of the pedicled nasoseptal flap after prior bilateral sphenoidotomy. Laryngoscope. 2010;120(9):1798–801.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Pollock JR, Akinwunmi J, Scaravilli F, Powell MP. Transcranial surgery for pituitary tumors performed by Sir Victor Horsley. Neurosurgery. 2003;52(4):914–25; discussion 925–6.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Powell M. Sir Victor Horsley – an inspiration. BMJ. 2006;333(7582):1317–9.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Prevedello DM, Doglietto F, Jane Jr JA, Jagannathan J, Han J, Laws Jr ER. History of endoscopic skull base surgery: its evolution and current reality. J Neurosurg. 2007;107(1):206–13.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Ram Z, Bruck B, Hadani M. Ultrasound in pituitary tumor surgery. Pituitary. 1999;2(2):133–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Ray B, Pearson OH. Hypophysectomy in the treatment of advanced cancer of the breast. Ann Surg. 1956;144:394–403.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  53. Riskaer N, Fog CV, Hommelgaard T. Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy in metastatic cancer of the breast. Arch Otolaryngol. 1961;74:483–93.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Rosegay H. The Krause operations. J Neurosurg. 1992;76(6):1032–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Rovit RL. Transsphenoidal surgery. J Neurosurg. 2002;96(6):1159–60; author reply 1160.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Rush CS, Shaw JF. With sharp compassion. Norman Dott: Freeman surgeon of Edinburgh. Edinburgh: Aberdeen University Press; 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Schloffer H. Zur Frage der Operationen an der Hypophyse. Beitr Klin Chir. 1906;50:767–817.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Schloffer H. Erfolgreiche Operation eines Hypophysentumors auf nasalem wege. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 1907;20:621–4.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Schmidt RF, Choudhry OJ, Takkellapati R, Eloy JA, Couldwell WT, Liu JK. Hermann Schloffer and the origin of transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. Neurosurg Focus. 2012;33(2):E5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Souza-Leite J. De l'Acromegalie. Maladie de Marie. These de Paris; 1890.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Thanabalasingham G, Karavitaki N, Cudlip S, Wass JA. Treatment of pituitary tumors: history. Endocrine. 2005;28(1):3–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Uff C, Frith D, Harrison C, Powell M, Kitchen N. Sir Victor Horsley's 19th century operations at the National Hospital for neurology and neurosurgery, Queen Square. J Neurosurg. 2011;114(2):534–42.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. von Eiselberg A. The operative cure of acromegaly by removal of a hypophysial tumor. Ann Surg. 1908;48:739–47.

    Google Scholar 

  64. Weiss M. Transnasal transsphenoidal approach. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins; 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Welbourn RB. The evolution of transsphenoidal pituitary microsurgery. Surgery. 1986;100(6):1185–90.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Wilson CB. A decade of pituitary microsurgery. The Herbert Olivecrona lecture. J Neurosurg. 1984;61(5):814–33.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Wirz R, Torres LG, Swaney PJ, Gilbert H, Alterovitz R, Webster RJ 3rd, Weaver KD, Russell PT 3rd. An experimental feasibility study on robotic endonasal telesurgery. Neurosurgery. 2015;76(4):479–84; discussion 484.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Zervas NT. Reflections on the surgery of the pituitary. Clin Neurosurg. 1980;27:124–32.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Kolle K, editor. Gross Nervenarzie. Stuttgart: Thieme; 1963. p. 199–206.

    Google Scholar 

  70. Lindholm J. A century of pituitary surgery: Schloffer’s legacy. Neurosurgery. 2007;61:865–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    James A. J. King & Andrew H. Kaye

Authors
  1. James A. J. King
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andrew H. Kaye
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew H. Kaye .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Edward R. Laws, Jr

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Indianapolis Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Aaron A. Cohen-Gadol

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medical College New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA

    Theodore H. Schwartz

  4. Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Jason P. Sheehan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

King, J.A.J., Kaye, A.H. (2017). The History of Trans-sphenoidal Surgery for Pituitary Tumours. In: Laws, Jr, E.R., Cohen-Gadol, A.A., Schwartz, T.H., Sheehan, J.P. (eds) Transsphenoidal Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56691-7_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56691-7_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-56689-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-56691-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation