Objective: To assess the laser-microscopy technique in dealing with tumors near the sella turcica.
Methods: Sixteen patients with tumors near the sella turcica who had been treated surgically by laser-microscopy technique from October 1996 to June 1998 in Haikou municipal hospital were analyzed retrospectively.
Results: In these patients, 11 patients had tumors bodies excised totally, and 5 had tumors bodies excised partially. All of then were followed up for 4 to 30 months. The curative effects were satisfactory. In 9 patients with defect in vision before operation, 6 showed obvious improvement, 2 moderate improvement, and 1 unmarked improvement. In 6 patients with endocrinopathy before operation, 4 returned to normal, and 2 showed improvement. In 4 patients with intracranial hypertension before operation, symptoms were retrieved. Only one patient who had diabetes insipidus after operation, and recovered after medication.
Conclusions: CO(2) laser-microscopy technique the treatment of tumors near the sella turcica is advantageous: few accidental injuries because of its high-accuracy; less harassment to the hypophysis and subthalamus; less complication; small exposure of operative field; less bleeding and clear operative field; no stimulation of metastasis of carcinoma;and no interference of bioelectric current.