Image-guided endonasal transsphenoidal microsurgical treatment of recurrent microadenomas of the pituitary gland.

BACKGROUND Neuronavigation is a commonly used technology that provides continuous, three-dimensional information for the precise localization of and surgical trajectory to brain lesions. This study was performed to evaluate the role that navigation can play in assisting microsurgical transsphenoidal surgery for precise localization and removal of recurrent pituitary tumours while simultaneously preserving pituitary gland function. METHOD During a 6-month period -- July 2004 until December 2004 -- 9 patients with recurrent pituitary tumours (5 female and 4-male) were treated with navigation-guided transsphenoidal microsurgical resection. Surgery was performed via a paraseptal or endonasal tr…