A different surgery route for hard to reach pituitary tumors
Original title: Endoscopic endonasal transcavernous surgery for knosp grade 3-4 growth hormone-secreting pituitary neuroendocrine tumors: surgical outcomes and predictors of biochemical remission.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
This surgery is already done in people, but it was only checked by looking back at past cases.
The short version
A surgery that opens one extra space helped more people get normal hormone levels.
What was studied. Doctors looked back at 50 people who had a pituitary tumor that made too much growth hormone. The tumors had grown into a space beside the gland. An earlier group had the usual surgery through the nose. A later group had surgery that also opened that side space.
What they found. In the later group, 64.7% ended up with normal hormone levels. In the earlier group, 31.3% did. Problems caused by the surgery were about the same in both groups. Blood tests before surgery and on the first day after surgery gave hints about who would do well.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: For this kind of hard to reach tumor, this surgery route may offer a better chance of getting hormone levels back to normal. It may be worth asking a brain surgeon about it.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean the newer route is proven better. Doctors only looked back at past records at one center. Just 50 people were included, and they were followed for a short time. The two groups were treated at different times, so other things may have changed too. This is not a cure, and results can differ for each person.
Source: PubMed, August 28, 2026 · Read the original
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