Artikel
Olfactory bulb volume before and after transsphenoidal pituitary surgery
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Veröffentlicht: | 8. Juni 2016 |
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Gliederung
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Objective: The transsphenoidal approach is most frequently used for pituitary adenoma resection. However, effects on neighboring organs have not been investigated so far. Furthermore, there are no reports on olfactory bulb (OB) anatomy after the transsphenoidal surgery. Reports on the olfactory function in small group of patients undergone the transsphenoidal approach show varying impairment of olfaction. Several of authors report issues on olfactory function after transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. While other studies show better sinonasal quality of life and olfactory function in patients undergoing the microscopic transnasal transseptal pituitary approach. We hypothesize that the transnasal approach is likely to alter olfactory function, which is mirrored in changing olfactory bulb volume.
Method: The study comprised 33 patients with pituitary adenoma (14 women and 19 men, mean age = 50 years). Comprehensive assessment of olfactory function was conducted with the "Sniffin' Sticks" test kit in 26 patients. Both olfactory bulbs were measured in 30 patients before and approximately 310 days after surgical treatment of the pituitary adenoma.
Results: According to normal population all patients had preoperatively smaller BO. Approximately one year after surgery olfactory function was not significantly different from baseline. However, OB volume in patients treated via transsphenoidal surgery was significantly smaller (t31=3,84; p=0,001), indicating decreased olfactory function. Interestingly, the side of the surgical approach did not affect OB volume in a side-specific manner.
Conclusions: In conclusion our results suggest that transsphenoidal surgery significantly affects OB volumes indicating some change in olfactory function.