From October 2001 to the end of November 2002 in Department of Neurosurgery, Silesian University School of Medicine in Katowice 70 explorations of the sella turcica were executed using the endoscopic method. In 63 cases the operation was done because of pituitary gland adenomas. In one case the diagnosis was craniopharyngioma, in 1 chordoma of the clivus, in one glioma of the optic nerve, in 1 the reason for an operation was an empty sella syndrome and in 3 cases the pathological diagnosis was an amorphous masses. Patients were operated using the 4-mm diameter endoscope with 0- and 30-degree angled lenses, using the method according to Jho and Carrau with our own modifications. In all cases of adenomas the total removal of the tumour was obtained in 71.4 %. Permanent diabetes insipidus occurred in 4.3 % of all operated patients. In our series of patients we did not observe any postoperative CSF leak or rhinological complications. One patient died, corresponding to 1.4 % of all cases. We the recommend transsphenoidal transnasal endoscopic approach for use in the cases of sellar region pathology because of the advantages of the method for surgeon and for comfort of the patient.

Aim of the Study: The aim of the study has been the assessment of the endoscopic method in the surgical management of recurrent and residual pituitary adenomas, as concerns treatment efficiency, substantial complications, and its possible advantages for the operating surgeon and patient. Material and Methods: In Department of Neurosurgery, Silesian University School of Medicine in Katowice, between October 2001 and June 2004, 125 patients underwent endoscopic surgery due to pituitary adenoma. The analysis comprised 20 patients, who were operated on due to recurrent adenomas or residual tumour not completely removed during the first surgical procedure. The group of patients was composed of 9 women and 11 men. The youngest patient was 32 years of age, the oldest 79. The average age was 53.9 years. The analysed group had 14 non-functioning adenomas, 4 GH-secreting adenomas, 1 PRL-secreting adenoma and 1 ACTH-secreting adenoma. 19 of them were macroadenomas while 1 was a microadenoma. 11 of the 20 adenomas infiltrated the cavernous sinuses. The surgical procedures were performed by a stable team, composed of 2 neurosurgeons, a laryngologist and an anaesthesiologist. The surgery method was based upon the technique developed by Jho and Carrau, with own modifications of the operators. A rigid neuroendoscope having the diameter of 4 mm with 0 ° and 30 ° optics by Storz was used. The follow-up period after surgery was between 12 and 42 months, 24.2 months on average. Results: Of the 20 cases, complete recovery was achieved in 40 % of patients undergoing secondary surgical procedures. In the group of 11 patients with adenomas not infiltrating the cavernous sinuses, recovery was reported for 8 of them, that is 73 %. No fatalities occurred. 7 cases of liquorrhoea occurred during operation, requiring reconstruction and sealing of the sella by means of tissue glue and artificial dura or freeze-dried human dura. In 1 case, despite the application of post-operative lumbar drainage, rhinorrhoea occurred one month after the procedure, which required endoscopic reconstructive treatment. In the same patient, a pneumoencephalocele was observed. The average time of the repeat surgical procedure using endoscopic techniques was shorter by 18 minutes than the repeat procedure using microscopic techniques. Conclusions: The endoscopic method is a safe, hardly invasive and efficient surgical technique in the treatment of recurrent and residual pituitary adenomas. Advantages which add to its attractiveness are also reduction of the procedure duration, very good visualisation of the operative field, absence of serious complications, less pain experienced after the surgery.

Background. The treatment of large arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) or AVMs involving eloquent regions of the brain remains a challenge. For inoperable lesions, observation, volume-staged radiosurgery or hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HFSRT) are proposed. The aim of our study was to assess the safety and efficiency of HFSRT for large AVMs located in eloquent areas of the brain. Materials and methods. An analysis of records of 49 patients irradiated for cerebral AVMs with a mean dose of 19.9 Gy (12-28 Gy) delivered in 2-4 fractions with planned gap (at least one week) between fractions. Actuarial obliteration rates and annual bleeding hazard were calculated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and life tables. Results. Annual bleeding hazard rates were 4.5% and 1.6% after one and two years of the follow-up, respectively. Actuarial total obliteration rates were 7%, 11%, and 21% and total response rate (total and partial obliterations) 22%, 41%, and 55% after one, two and three years of the follow-up, respectively. There was a trend towards larger total obliteration rate in patients irradiated with fraction dose ≥ 8 Gy and total dose > 21 Gy for lesions of volume ≤ 8.18 cm3 which was not observed in case of partial obliterations. Conclusions. HFSRT results with relatively low obliteration rate but is not associated with a significant risk of permanent neurological deficits if both total and fraction doses are adjusted to size and location of the lesion. Predictive factors for total and partial obliterations can be different; this observation, however, is not firmly supported and requires further studies.