Real-time intraoperative ultrasound imaging of the posterior pituitary gland during endoscopic endonasal approach

• Published in: Acta neurochirurgica 2024-11, Vol.166 (1), p.456, Article 456
• Main Authors: Juncker, Ryan B., Finger, Guilherme, Damante, Mark A., Prevedello, Luciano M., Prevedello, Daniel M., Wu, Kyle C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenoma; Adenoma - diagnostic imaging; Adenoma - surgery; Adult; Aged; Antidiuretics; Central nervous system; Diabetes insipidus; Endoscopy; Endosonography - methods; Female; Humans; Hyponatremia; Interventional Radiology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Minimally Invasive Surgery; Morphology; Neuroendoscopy - methods; Neurology; Neuroradiology; Neurosurgery; Physical characteristics; Pituitary (anterior); Pituitary (posterior); Pituitary gland; Pituitary Gland, Posterior - diagnostic imaging; Pituitary Gland, Posterior - surgery; Pituitary Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Pituitary Neoplasms - surgery; Preservation; Retrospective Studies; Surgical Orthopedics; Tumors; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography - methods; Ultrasound
• ISSN: 0942-0940; 0001-6268; 0942-0940
• DOI: 10.1007/s00701-024-06353-y

Purpose Pituitary adenomas are amongst the most common benign central nervous system tumors, and often require resection via an endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA). Two of the most common associated complications are central diabetes insipidus (DI) and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). Both are thought to be caused by manipulation of the posterior pituitary gland (PPG), making intraoperative visualization and preservation of this structure critical. Intraoperative endoscopic endonasal ultrasound (IEUS) may present an optimal tool for this purpose. This study aims to describe the appearance and morphology of the PPG on IEUS. Methods This study included all pituitary adenoma surgeries during which IEUS was utilized and the PPG was visualized between 1/1/2022, and 12/31/2023. Demographic, clinical, pathological, and radiological data were retrospectively collected. The PPG was described as either hypoechoic, isoechoic, or hyperechoic as compared to the anterior pituitary gland and adenoma, and the morphology of the PPG was further classified as ellipse or crescent shaped. Results The PPG was hypoechoic in all 43 cases included in our final cohort (100.0%). Morphologically, the PPG appeared elliptical in 27 cases (62.8%), and crescent shaped in 16 cases (37.2%). Conclusion The PPG can typically be visualized by IEUS as a hypoechoic structure immediately anterior to the posterior wall of the sella turcica, with elliptical morphology being the most common appearance. These characteristics can be used by the skull base surgeon to more confidently identify the position and morphology of the PPG intraoperatively for its’ preservation.