Future directions for surgery of the pituitary region

Abstract

Pituitary surgery has evolved tremendously over the past century amidst a rapidly changing landscape of medical and radiosurgical therapies. One of the principal driving forces behind this transformation has been the benefit of minimal invasiveness, which is likely to further advance the specialty as higher-definition and more miniature optic systems and cameras, the use of robotics, and enhanced neuroimaging and neuronavigation, are further translated into the operating room. The emergence of nanotechnology will likely allow tumor-specific molecular ligands and nanoparticles to identify and differentiate tumors, and may permit manipulation of neural structures on the micron level with tools currently being developed, including the nanoknife, nanotweezers and femtosecond laser. Further advances in stereotactic radiosurgery may increase the prominence and safety associated with this technique for the treatment of pituitary pathology.

Keywords:

• endoscopic
• microscopic
• pituitary
• pituitary tumor
• radiosurgery
• sella turcica
• surgical approach
• transsphenoidal

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.