Object Because of their size and lateral extension, total removal of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) remains a challenge and postoperative tumor remnants are frequent. Endoscopy has improved the surgeon's view; however, its superiority in terms of surgical outcome remains undetermined. The authors' aim in this study was to compare the clinical results and morbidity between microscopic and endoscopic techniques in 164 patients with NFPAs. Methods Tumoral (3D MR imaging), endocrinological, and ophthalmological results and morbidity were compared between 2 groups of 82 patients with newly diagnosed NFPAs surgically treated via either a sublabial microscopic approach (Group B) or a fully endonasal endoscopic technique (Group A). Results The groups showed no difference in terms of clinical features, tumor size, or cavernous sinus invasion (p > 0.05). One year postoperatively, the quality of resection was significantly improved in Group A (gross-total removal [GTR]: 74% vs 50% in Group B, p = 0.002) with greater control of lateral extension (Knosp Grade 2: GTR 88.2% vs 47.8% in Group B, p = 0.02; Knosp Grade 3: 67.9% vs 16.7% in Group B, p < 0.001) and suprasellar extension (tumor height 20–30 mm: GTR 76% vs 53% in Group B, p = 0.01). Endocrinological outcome in patients with a partial deficiency in anterior pituitary function preoperatively was significantly better in Group A (improvement 56% vs 25% in Group B, stabilization 22% vs 46%, and aggravation 22% vs 29%; p = 0.01). Among the ophthalmologically symptomatic patients, 100% from Group A improved compared with 93% in Group B (p = 0.35). Lastly, no significant difference was found regarding morbidity. These data were supported by the literature in which the GTR rate is consistently higher for endoscopy compared with microscopy. Conclusions In this large series of patients with NFPAs, endoscopy improved the quality of resection and endocrinological outcome. Larger studies focusing on the impact of these promising results on the long-term recurrence of NFPAs are warranted.

Considering many approaches to the skull base confront the inferior orbital fissure (IOF) or sphenomaxillary fissure, the authors examine this anatomy as an important endoscopic surgical landmark. In morphometric analyses of 50 adult human dry skulls from both sexes, we divided the length of the IOF into three segments (anterolateral, middle, posteromedial). Hemotoxylin- and eosin-stained sections were analyzed. Dissections were performed using transnasal endoscopy in four formalin-fixed cadaveric cranial specimens (eight sides); three endoscopic approaches to the IOF were performed. IOF length ranged from 25 to 35 mm (mean 29 mm). Length/width of the individual anterolateral, middle, and posteromedial segments averaged 6.46/5, 4.95/3.2, and 17.6/ 2.4 mm, respectively. Smooth muscle within the IOF had a consistent relationship with several important anatomical landmarks. The maxillary antrostomy, total ethmoidectomy approach allowed access to the posteromedial segment of the fissure. The endoscopic modified, medial maxillectomy approach allowed access to the middle and posterior-medial segment. The Caldwell-Luc approach allowed complete exposure of the IOF. The IOF serves as an important anatomic landmark during endonasal endoscopic approaches to the skull base and orbit. Each of the three segments provides a characteristic endoscopic corridor, unique to the orbit and different fossas surrounding the fissure.

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