Anterior interhemispheric approach for giant sellar region tumors in a series of 110 consecutive patients

To explore the techniques and efficacies of surgical resection of giant sellar region tumors via anterior interhemispheric approach. A series of 110 consecutive cases of giant sellar region tumors undergoing microsurgery through an anterior interhemispheric approach at our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Their mean age was 35.6 (3-72) years. There were craniopharyngioma (n = 57), pituitary adenoma (n = 33), hypothalamic glioma (n = 5), meningioma (n = 4) and other lesions (n = 11). The maximal tumor diameter varied from 4.0 to 8.2 cm with a mean diameter of 4.8 cm. Active measurements were taken for managing blood sodium disorder and diabetes insipidus. During the follow-ups, the patients were monitored for residual or recurrent tumor by hormonal assessment (in cases of functioning adenomas) and postoperative contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed 1-3 months after surgery. Total lesion removal was achieved in 76 cases (69.1%). Twenty patients (18.2%) underwent subtotal resection and 14 (1