The Emory Pituitary Center is among the first to use a 3-D endoscope to remove pituitary tumors. This new surgical tool provides 3-dimensional (stereoscopic vision) through a small fiber optic camera at the end of a narrow tube, which allows the doctor to better navigate this delicate area at the base of the brain.
Although the pituitary gland is small, just over half an inch, it is an extremely important organ and is surrounded by critical nerves and blood vessels within a very narrow confined space at the base of the brain. It controls all other endocrine organs, such as the pancreas, adrenal, thyroid, testicles, and ovaries. Thus, problems with this gland can cause system-wide effects that can be a matter of life and death.
The new 3-D endoscope is extremely helpful for a surgeon who is operating on a small organ located at the base of brain. The pituitary is surrounded by nerves that control the eye and vessels that supply blood to the brain. Three-D imaging gives the surgeon critical depth perception, which optimizes hand-eye coordination. It provides the surgeon with the critical ability to accurately visualize and appreciate differences in form, shape and size as well as the relationships and distances between critical structures such as the gland, nerves and blood vessels in the operating field.
This tool has only recently become available, and Emory is one a handful of centers worldwide using it.
Treatment &
Services
3D Endoscopy
Patient Benefits:
- Your surgery will be performed by experienced surgeons using the best instrument on the market.
- There is less chance of disturbing other structures, such as nerves and blood vessels, because the surgeon can visualize and understand the spatial relationships without unnecessary and misleading visual distortion.
- The procedure is minimally invasive. The entire operation is done through the nose.
- This novel treatment alleviates the need to fully open the skull, meaning fewer risks for neurologic injury because of less exposure of the brain and less operating time.
- Much shorter recovery times mean you can return to normal activities several days after surgery.
- Patients who have these tumors removed using this minimally invasive technique have excellent outcomes in experienced hands.
Patient Risks:
- The risks associated with use of the 3-D endoscope are the same as with traditional transsphenoidal endoscopic surgery, but these risks are reduced.
- A potential risk in removing a pituitary tumor is damage to the pituitary gland, which may result in the need for hormone replacement therapy.
- Damage to the posterior pituitary may result in a condition called diabetes insipidus, which may or may not be permanent.
- Rarely, a cerebrospinal fluid leak may occur, which can lead to meningitis. Surgery may be required to repair the leak.
- Even less likely, the carotid arteries, located on either side of the pituitary gland, can be damaged during surgery, leading to a stroke or blood loss.
- Damage to the structures of the sinus can result in nasal deformity and sinus congestion.