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Surgery The first type of surgery for acromegaly was pioneered by Harvey Cushing almost a century ago. Cushing's approach to the tumor was through a craniotomy , with its contingent complications. In search of less invasive surgery, physicians have improved techniques significantly. Tumor removal has been facilitated by use of the operating microscope for visual enhancement during surgery. The aim of surgery is to totally remove the pituitary tumor without causing any damage to normal pituitary tissue or surrounding tissues. This is not always possible and surgery may otherwise be used to debulk the tumor and relieve pressure on surrounding tissues. Surgical access to the pituitary gland for removal of the pituitary tumor continues to undergo technical refinements. Current approaches include:
This is the most common surgical approach to the pituitary tumor using a transnasal or translabial route. Flexible endoscopy and/or rigid speculum instrumentation may be used in the removal of the pituitary tumor through the sphenoid sinus.
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