Removing a Small Part of the Nose During Pituitary Surgery Did Not Lower Quality of Life
Original title: Middle Turbinectomy in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery: How Significant Is Its Impact on Quality of Life?
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.
Doctors simply watched people who already had this surgery, so this is not proof that one way is better.
The short version
Taking out a small structure inside the nose to reach a pituitary tumor did not seem to make people feel worse later on.
What was studied. Doctors at one hospital followed 73 adults who had a pituitary tumor removed through the nose between 2014 and 2021. In 51 people, a small structure inside the nose called the middle turbinate was taken out on both sides. The other 22 people kept theirs.
What they found. Patients filled out two surveys. One asked about nose and sinus symptoms. The other asked about problems tied to the tumor. The scores were about the same in both groups. That stayed true more than 6 months after surgery.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: Surgeons sometimes need to remove this part of the nose to see and reach the tumor. This study suggests that doing so may not leave you feeling worse in the long run. If you are facing this surgery, it is a fair question to ask your surgeon about.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean the question is settled. This was one hospital and a small group of people. Patients were not randomly assigned to each group, so other differences between them could explain the results. It says nothing about how well the surgery removes the tumor. It is not a cure, and it is not a promise about how you personally will feel after surgery.
Source: PubMed, July 15, 2026 · Read the original
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