Tuberculum Sellae Meningiomas: Transcranial Approaches Results and Complications ()
1. Introduction
Tuberculum sellae (TS) meningiomas represent approximately 5% to 10% of intracranial meningiomas [1] [2] [3] [4]. They arise from the tuberculum sellae, chiasmatic sulcus, limbus sphenoidale, and diaphragma sellae and grow in a subchiasmal position. The optic nerves and chiasm may be elevated or displaced laterally with the increasing size of the tumor.
Cushing and Eisenhardt [2] were the first to report 28 cases of meningiomas of the tuberculem sellae and proposed a classification in four stages according to their size. They used the term suprasellar to describe tumors arising from the dura over the tuberculum sellae.
Later, many reports have been published under the classification of suprasellar meningiomas, to describe tumors arising from different locations, including the anterior and posterior clinoid processes, tuberculum sellae, planum sphenoidale, optic foramen, olfactory groove, medial sphenoid ridge, or diaphragma sellae [5] - [18]. Some authors have proposed to distinguish meningiomas of the tuberculum sellae as a separate entity [1] [4] [19] - [24].
As the tumors are located in contact with the optic nerves and the optic chiasm, the aim of surgery is to improve and/or stabilize the visual acuity [25]. The transcranial approach (TCA) has become the standard surgical approach for resection of these tumors, with accepted outcomes, but, with recent advances in endoscopic neurosurgical techniques, the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) has been used for its treatment [26]. Other approaches include supraorbital endoscopy, endoscopic-assisted microsurgical techniques.
Many clinical criteria support one surgical approach over another, but the factors affecting the long-term clinical outcomes associated with these approaches remain limited [27]. However, TCA is still considered the gold standard for the resection of TS meningiomas [28]. The transcranial approaches included a variety of craniotomies pterional, unilateral subfrontal, bilateral subfrontal, in an attempt to find the most direct route to this region with the fewest complications or anatomical limitations [3] [4] [15] [20] [29].
As up to 80% of patients with present with visual deficits, improvement in visual function is main parameter that may be used to assess the Quality of Life (QOL) after surgery [23].
Our objective was to retrospectively review our results using transcranial approach to assess the resection rate, neurological outcome and vision.
2. Patients and Methods
We retrospectively reviewed clinical, radiological and operative data of 17 patients with tuberculem sellae mengiomas. These patients were operated at our Neurosurgery Department of the Sohag university Hospital from January 2018 to January 2021.
2.1. Clinical Evaluation
Preopertive patients’ clinical history and neurological examination were reviewed with special attention to data related to pituitary endocrine axis and cranial nerve affection and intracranial hypertension.
2.2. Radiological Evaluation
All patients underwent CT scan of the brain with and without contrast, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain. Cerebral CT-Angiography in large lesions, were used in some patients for surgical planning.
2.3. Surgery
Surgery was performed under general anesthesia using the operating microscope and microsurgical instrumentation in all patients. Tumors were operated via: the pterional and subfrontal approaches.
Pterional approach was chosen with:
● Small lesions
● Large frontal air sinuses
● Suprasellar and/or parasellar extension
● Severe optic nerve compression on one side
Subfrontal approach was chosen with:
● Large lesions
● Extension to the planum
● Severe optic nerve compression on both sides
2.4. Surgical Steps
A standard pterional approach was used in 10 patients and unilateral subfrontal approach in 7 patients. The surgical techniques were similar to previous descriptions and reports [13] [30]. In both approaches we preferred to operate through the same side of larger tumor extension and/or more manifest optic nerve affection, otherwise, we preferred to operate through the right non dominant side.
Intraoperative and postoperative results and complications were reviewed and analysed. Follw up data in our outpatient clinic for all patients were evaluated and presented.
3. Results
Here we present the results of 17 consecutive patients with tuberculem sellae mengiomas operated over the period from January 2017 to January 2021.
3.1. Age and Sex Incidence
Out of 17 patients with tuberculem sellae meningiomas: 12 were females (70%) and 5 were males (30%). Age varied from 33 years to 65 years with a mean value of 46.3 years.
3.2. Clinical Symptoms and Signs: (Table 1)
The most common symptom was decreased vision and headache (100%), while the most common sign was bitemporal hemianopia (82%).
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Table 1. Clinical symptoms and signs.
3.3. Radiological Findings: (Table 2)
Suprasellar extension was evident in 82% of cases while bilateral optic nerve encasement was found in 18% of cases with the tumor invading the cavernous sinus and encasing anterior cereberal arteries.
3.4. Operative Data: (Table 3)
Pterional approach was used in 59% of cases and Subfrontal approach was used in 41% of cases.
Extent of tumor resection:
Out of 17 patients gross total resection was achieved in 14 patients (82%). Residual tumors in the two cases were related to either the carotid artery or anterior cerebral artery that were adherent to these vessels, for which a more aggressive dissection was judged to be injurious. The third case subtotal resection was accepted due to a calcified portion of the lesion extending toward the brainstem, that could not be removed. The dural attachement at the tuberculum sellae and planum sphenoidale was thoroughly coagulated with bipolar cautery in all patients. Histopathologically all tumors were WHO grade I meningiomas.
3.5. Visual Outcome
Postoperative visual outcome analysis was performed by ophthalmologist for 16 patients postoperatively. Visual acuity improved in 8 patients (50%), remained unchanged in 7 patients (43%), and worsened in one patient (7%) of patients. One patient died before evaluation of post-operative vision.
3.6. Complications: (Table 4)
Post-operative haematoma in tumor bed occurred in 1 patient and was small hematoma and managed conservatively. Another patient developed post-operative transient Diabetes inspidus and treated medically and improved within 1 week of surgery.
Mortality: 1 patient developed post-operative status epilepticus and died in ICU the second day of operation.
3.7. Case Presentations
Here we present 2 cases of our series:
The first case was 45 years old female complaining of headache and diminution
of vision. Clinical and visual field examination showed bitemporal hemianopia and MRI brain showed tuberculem sellae meningioma with suprasellar extension. Figure 1 shows gross total removal via right subfrontal approach.
The second case was 52 years old female presented with headache and diminution of vision. Visual field examination showed bitemporal hemianopia and CT and MRI brain showed tuberculem sellae meningioma with suprasellar extension. Figure 2 shows operative view and postoperative gross total removal via Rt pterional approach.
4. Discussion
The tuberculum sellae space, is surrounded laterally by the clinoid processes, internal carotid and posterior communicating arteries with the arachnoid of the carotid cisterns, posteriorly by the pituitary stalk, infundibulum, and Liliequist membrane and superiorly by the optic chiasm, lamina terminalis, and ACA complex [29]. This space is quite small, (mean length 8 mm, mean width 11 mm) [13], and the easiest way and the path of least resistance for tumor growth tends to be over the planum sphenoidale anteriorly (possibly due to a defect in arachnoid of the chiasmatic cistern), around the optic nerves sometimes into the optic canals laterally, above the chiasm, displacing it superiorly, and down over the tuberculum sella inferiorly. A layer of arachnoid in most of cases is present between tumor surrounding brain structures, and this provides a plane of dissection. Due to the limits of the tuberculum sellae spaces [29].
Due to above mentioned anatomical facts tuberculum sellae meningiomas are difficult to treat, owing to their close association important neurovascular structures. Many approaches were used to address these lesions as unilateral subfrontal, pterional, bilateral subfrontal transbasal interhemispheric approach and recently endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approache [13] [26] [30] [31]. In this study pterional approach as used in 82% of cases and subfrontal approach was used in 18% of patients.
4.1. Incidence of Morbidity
In the literature, the overall morbidity and mortality rate associated with resection of tuberculum sellae meningiomas is quite low [31] [32] [33]. Morbidity has been divided into two types; ophthalmological or non ophthalmological. Causes of non ophthalmological morbidity may require surgical or just medical treatment. Postoperative complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leak (CSF), postoperative hematomas, infections, and psychotic alterations [10]. However in our series Post-operative haematoma occurred in 1 patient (5.9%) and was small hematoma and managed conservatively and no deterioration occurred for the patient. One patient (5.9%) developed post-operative transient Diabetes inspidus and improved spontaneously after 1 week of surgery without medication. There were no CSF leak or infection.
4.2. Incidence of Mortality
Mortality rates ranging from 0% in recent series [10] up to 67% have been reported in old series [10] [28]. Series with no fatalities have been reported during the last two decades with advance of technique and facilities and modern neuroanesthesia [10]. Death has been reported to depend on the size of the tumor [4] [17] [20] [32]. Brihaye and Brihaye-Van Geertruyden [7] reported higher mortality rates in patients with tumors exceeding 3 cm in diameter (7.1% - 44%). In our series mortality rate is about (5.9%); there was one male patient who died as he developed post-operative status epilepticus and cardiac arrest.
4.3. Visual Outcome
Suprasellar meningiomas usually present with visual deterioration, including decreased visual acuity and/or visual field defects due to affection of the optic nerves and optic chiasm. In addition, they may encase major blood vessels, thus compromising the possibility for total resection. So one of the main aims of surgery is to relief the optic apparatus compression, allowing for visual recovery [25] [34]. Improvement in vision has been reported in 40% to 80% of patients undergoing surgery [6] [10] [25] [33] [34]. No change in visual status has been reported in 18% to 40%, whereas worsened vision has been reported in 17% to 20% [10] [26]. In this series there were 17 patients diagnosed with tuberculum sellae meningiomas who underwent surgical removal over a 4-year period. The mean follow-up duration was 12 months. Visual acuity improved in 8 patients (47%), remained unchanged in 7 patients (41%), and worsened in one patient (5.9%) of patients.
4.4. Extent of Tumor Resection
A review of old the literature, there is a stress on that complete tumor resection should not be achieved at the cost of increased rates of morbidity, especially the risk of visual deterioration and hypothalamic dysfunction [9] [24] but in recent microsurgical series, there were high rates of complete tumor resection ranged from 35% to 100%. The extent of tumor resection has improved with the advent of modern microsurgery [1] [5] [17].
In our series, there was only 3 patients patients (18%) in whom there was subtotal resection of a meningioma was achieved, residual tumor in the two cases were related to either the carotid artery or anterior cerebral artery that were very adherent to these vessels, for which a more aggressive dissection and resection was judged to be injurious. The third case subtotal resction was considered due to a calcified portion of the lesion extending toward the brainstem that could not be removed. The percentage of Gross total resection in this series is about 82%.
5. Conclusion
Transcranial removal of tuberculum sellae meningioma is still considered the standard approach for this type of lesions even after advancement of extended endoscopic skull base approaches, with high rate of gross total resection and better hemostasis of the tumor bed.
Recommendations
A comparative study between endoscopic endonasal extended approach and transcranial approach is needed.
Limitations
Small number of the study and relatively short follow up period.