Clinical features and surgical treatment of pituitary adenoma with cerebral spinal fluid rhinorrhea

Objective To investigate the clinical features and surgical treatment of pituitary adenoma with cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea.Methods The clinical characteristics,uniformity of removal of the tumor and repair techniques of the CSF rhinorrhea of 18 cases of pituitary adenoma patients combined with CSF rhinorrhea in nearly four years were studied and the patterns of repair ways for CSF rhinorrhea to the specific circumstances of different patients were determined.Results In all 18 patients,total tumor resection were obtained in 12 cases and subtotal resection in 6 cases.All patients' rhinorrhea repair was successful,including one case of secondary surgical repair.Pathology analysis:prolactinomas in 8 cases,GH in 3,and non-functioning in 7.11 patients were dynamically observed postoperatively through MRI scans.Some patients underwent medication or stereotactic radiotherapy to control the residual tumors.Conclusions CSF rhinorrhea in pituitary adenoma patients was rare.Once it was diagnosed in pituitary adenoma patient,surgical treatment was necessary.The tumor should be removed and the reconstruction of the skull base defect should be performed.It was essential to choose the right way to repair CSF leakage depending on the specific circumstances. Key words: Pituitary adenoma;  Cerebral spinal fluid rhinorrhea;  Surgical treatment;  Clinical features