MRI EVALUATION OF THE SPHENOID SINUS AFTER TRANSSPHENOIDAL APPROACH TO THE PITUITARY

The transsphenoidal approach to the pituitary (TSA) is currently the m ost common approach used to treat pituitary tumors. The surgical techn ique necessitates an incomplete stripping of sphenoid sinus mucosa. Lo ng-term postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation of t he sphenoid sinus has not been reported. A retrospective review of pat ients undergoing a TSA at the University of Washington Hospitals was p erformed. Preoperative scans were compared with postoperative scans do ne during three time intervals. Group 1 had scans at 1 to 12 weeks pos toperatively; 10 of 10 patients had sinus effusions. Group 2 had scans at 6 to 18 months postoperatively; 22 of 31 had mucosal abnormalities . Group 3 had scans at 2 to 3 years; 7 of 9 were abnormal. MRI evaluat ion indicates that a majority of patients have both acute and chronic sphenoid sinus abnormalities after TSA.