Warning from the expert: “Pituitary tumors can be operated with closed method through the nose”

Dr. Faculty Member İbrahim Ekici from Liv Hospital Ankara Department of Neurosurgery stated that pituitary tumor surgery, which was previously performed as open surgery, can be operated with closed method through the nose thanks to the developing technology such as endoscopy and navigation.

Stating that thanks to the gradual increase and development of diagnostic methods today, the frequency of pituitary tumor detection has also increased, Dr. Faculty Member İbrahim Ekici from Liv Hospital Ankara Department of Neurosurgery and Neurosurgery gave information about current treatment methods.

Stating that very successful results are being obtained in the fight against pituitary tumors with the developments in treatment methods, Dr. Lecturer. Prof. Dr. Ekici said, “Various treatment methods have been developed for these tumors, especially as a result of the advancement of technologies such as endoscopy and navigation day by day, surgeries that were previously performed openly can now be performed with closed methods.”

“It can cause hormone disorders and vision loss”

Underlining the importance of the pituitary gland as the brain center where our body's hormones are managed, as well as its proximity to the optic nerves and the main vein that feeds the brain, Ekici said, “Tumors in the pituitary gland can cause hormone disorders and vision loss. Pituitary tumors can be seen in all age groups. There is no big difference in the incidence in terms of male and female gender.”

“Heart rhythm problems, weight problems, enlargement of the hands, feet and face can be seen”

Emphasizing that pituitary tumors can cause some symptoms by causing hormone disorders, Dr. Lecturer. Prof. Dr. Ekici listed them as follows:

“There may be problems such as growth of hands, feet, nose and face, excessive snoring, breathing problems, headache and heart enlargement due to increased growth hormone. Due to the increase in milk hormone (prolactin), menstrual irregularities, inability to menstruate, milk coming from the breast in women; sexual reluctance, erection problems, growth in breast tissue can be observed in men. Heart rhythm problems, excessive sweating, weight gain and loss may occur due to thyroid hormone changes. Weight gain, increased hair growth, skin findings and facial edema may occur due to cortisol hormone disorders. Excessive desire to drink water, excessive urination may be seen.”

“Life-threatening metabolic emergencies may occur”

Pointing out that life-threatening metabolic emergencies may also occur as a result of excessive growth of the pituitary tumor and bleeding into it, Ekici said, “Along with this, impaired consciousness may develop. When the tumor grows, it can cause serious and progressive vision loss by pressing on the optic nerve; conditions such as eyelid drooping and double vision may occur.”

Methods used in treatment

Providing information about the methods used in the treatment of tumors in the pituitary gland region and the surgical technique, Dr. Lecturer. Prof. Ekici said, “The most commonly used method in the treatment of tumors located in the skull base and pituitary gland region is the endoscopic method. Surgeries under general anesthesia take an average of 1.5-2 hours. This is a shorter time than expected for a brain surgery.”

Dr. Assist. Prof. Dr. Ekici stated that with the use of endoscopy, it is an advantage to perform the procedure by seeing the operation area on a large screen with a wide angle and that surgical experience, good training, high number of cases and hand predisposition are required to achieve this advantage.

“Endoscopic closed method is a cosmetically comfortable surgical method”

Emphasizing that thanks to the endoscopic closed method performed through the nose, patients have a cosmetically comfortable surgery as well as a short and fast hospital stay and recovery time, Dr. Lecturer. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Ekici said, “When our patients are discharged, they go home with an appearance as if they have never had brain surgery. Thus, patients experience the stress of having brain surgery at the lowest level.”

“Clinical and teamwork is important in follow-up and treatment”

Emphasizing that clinical and teamwork is also very important in the follow-up and treatment of patients with pituitary gland tumors, Dr. Assist. Prof. Dr. Ekici underlined that the neurological and metabolic follow-up of the patients should be done sensitively, especially on the day of surgery and in the postoperative period. Prof. Dr. Assist. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Ekici added that patients with anatomically difficult and sensitive tumor placement can also be treated by operating through the nose with the closed method.