Transsphenoidal Extent of Resection Study (TRANSSPHER)

Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study Comparing Extent of Tumor Resection Between Microscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery and Fully Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery for Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas

Saint John's Cancer Institute, Swedish Medical Center, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Washington University School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

The purpose of this research study is to compare the extent of resection (EOR) in patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas undergoing transsphenoidal surgery using a microsurgical technique to those patients who have undergone surgery with a fully endoscopic technique. Another goal is to compare surgical complications, endocrine outcomes, visual outcomes, length of surgery, length of hospital stay, and readmission rates between the two transsphenoidal surgery techniques. This is an observational data collection study with no experimental procedures or experimental medicines. Endonasal transsphenoidal removal of a pituitary tumor is a unique procedure and there is little information comparing the two surgical techniques.

The treatment of choice for most patients with symptomatic nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas is transsphenoidal surgery to improve vision by decompression of the optic chiasm, to prevent the development of endocrine dysfunction, and to treat neurological symptoms such as headache or cranial neuropathies caused by the tumor. The most widely accepted surgical technique is microscopic transsphenoidal surgery, in which an operating microscope is used by the surgeon to provide surgical visualization and a nasal speculum is used to maintain the operative corridor. [1-4] Recently, fully endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery, in which surgical visualization is achieved using an endoscope, has been adopted by many pituitary surgeons because the technique offers superior panoramic and angled visualization of the surgical target and may permit greater tumor resection. [5-10] There is a vigorous debate in the neurosurgical community about the relative merits of the microscopic and endoscopic techniques. Proponents of the endoscopic technique argue that the superior visualization permits more aggressive tumor resection and better preservation of the normal pituitary gland. Proponents of the microscopic technique argue that it permits shorter operative times, results in similar surgical outcomes, and has a lower complication rate. Despite the adoption of fully endoscopic surgery by many surgeons, no prospective studies have compared the extent of tumor resection (EOR) between microscopic and endoscopic approaches. Numerous retrospective studies have established the efficacy of each approach, but only a few studies present comparative data.[11-13] Recently, McLaughlin et al. noted that the addition of endoscopy to microscopic pituitary surgery enhances tumor removal, particularly in patients with tumors greater than 20 mm in diameter. [14] This study raises the intriguing possibility that certain subgroups of patients (e.g. patients with larger tumors) may benefit from endoscopic surgery. In patients with smaller tumors with no cavernous sinus invasion, others have shown that the techniques achieve similar EOR. [15] That endoscopy may permit more complete tumor resections is a testable hypothesis.

volume, analyzed as a continuous variable; will be determined by manual segmentation using Dominator (www.dominator.com) software under the supervision of a board-certified neuroradiologist

leakage from nose is a known complication, however, patients who have undergone a second surgery or had a lumbar drain placed to repair the problem will be documented

Determined by symptoms of headache, fever, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting, and occasionally an altered level of consciousness. CSF culture may be positive for infection and may show elevated glucose and/or protein. CSF may be negative in aseptic meningitis.

(morning cortisol <4.0ug/dL)(adrenocorticotropic hormone ACTH <6.0pg/mL)(follicular stimulating hormone FSH - mIU/mL. Female: follicular: <3.5; midcycle <4.7; luteal <1.7; postmenopausal <25.8. male <1.7)(luteinizing hormone LH - mIU/mL. Female: follicular <2.4; midcycle <14.0; luteal <1.0; postmenopausal <7.7)(estradiol - pg/mL. female: follicular <13; ovulation <86; luteal <44; postmenopausal <56)(insulin-like growth factor 1 IGF1: 101ng/mL)(testosterone total - ng/dL. Female <6.0; male <270.0)(prolactin ,3.3ng/mL)(thyroid stimulating hormone TSH <.45mU/L)(Thyroxine T4 Free <0.8ng/dL

to be evaluated by pituitary endocrinologist; serum sodium value is > or equal to 147meq/dl OR if the patient received treatment for DI

visual field deficits in this exam will be compared to pre-operative results. Confrontation visual field exam (Donder's test): The examiner will ask the patient to cover one eye and stare at the examiner. The examiner will then move his hand out of the patient's visual field and bring it back in. The examiner will use a slowly wagging finger or a hat pin for this. The patient signals the examiner when his hand comes back into view. Second option is a formal visual field exam (perimetry) performed by a neuro-ophthalmologist.

(Testosterone (Total) - ng/dL. Female: < 6.0; Male: < 270.0) (Follicular Stimulating Hormone (FSH) - mIU/mL. Female - Follicular: < 3.5; Midcycle: <4.7; Luteal: < 1.7; Postmenopausal: < 25.8. Male - < 1.5)(Luteinizing Hormone LH - mIU/mL. Female: Follicular: < 2.4; Midcycle: <14.0; Luteal: < 1.0; Postmenopausal: < 7.7. Male: < 1.7)(Estradiol - pg/mL. Female: Follicular: < 13; Ovulation: < 86; Luteal: < 44; Postmenopausal: < 56. Male: < 15)

(insulin tolerance test: growth hormone <3μg/l)(IGF1 <77)(symptoms may include thin and dry skin, low energy, decreased strength and exercise tolerance, decreased muscle mass, weight gain especially around the waist, feelings of anxiety, depression, or sadness causing a change in social behavior

(morning serum cortisol <4.0ug/dL)(ACTH <6.0pg/mL)(sodium <135mEq/L)(abnormal ACTH [cosyntropin] stimulation test)

Inclusion Criteria: Patients with suspected nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas (≥ 1 cm) with planned transsphenoidal surgery Adults (age 18-80 years) Medically stable for surgery Reasonable expectation that patient will complete study and be available for follow-up assessments Exclusion Criteria: Prisoners Pregnant women Patients with suspected functioning pituitary adenoma Unable to obtain MRI of the pituitary (e.g., pacemaker, anaphylaxis to gadolinium, low GFR) Pituitary apoplexy

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McLaughlin N, Eisenberg AA, Cohan P, Chaloner CB, Kelly DF. Value of endoscopy for maximizing tumor removal in endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary adenoma surgery. J Neurosurg. 2013 Mar;118(3):613-20. doi: 10.3171/2012.11.JNS112020. Epub 2012 Dec 14.

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Little AS, Gardner PA, Fernandez-Miranda JC, Chicoine MR, Barkhoudarian G, Prevedello DM, Yuen KCJ, Kelly DF; TRANSSPHER Study Group. Pituitary gland recovery following fully endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma: results of a prospective multicenter study. J Neurosurg. 2019 Nov 15;133(6):1732-1738. doi: 10.3171/2019.8.JNS191012.

Little AS, Chicoine MR, Kelly DF, Sarris CE, Mooney MA, White WL, Gardner PA, Fernandez-Miranda JC, Barkhoudarian G, Chandler JP, Prevedello DM, Liebelt BD, Sfondouris J, Mayberg MR; TRANSSPHER Study Group. Evaluation of Surgical Resection Goal and Its Relationship to Extent of Resection and Patient Outcomes in a Multicenter Prospective Study of Patients With Surgically Treated, Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas: A Case Series. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2020 Jan 1;18(1):26-33. doi: 10.1093/ons/opz085.

Little AS, Kelly DF, White WL, Gardner PA, Fernandez-Miranda JC, Chicoine MR, Barkhoudarian G, Chandler JP, Prevedello DM, Liebelt BD, Sfondouris J, Mayberg MR; TRANSSPHER Study Group. Results of a prospective multicenter controlled study comparing surgical outcomes of microscopic versus fully endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas: the Transsphenoidal Extent of Resection (TRANSSPHER) Study. J Neurosurg. 2019 Mar 22;132(4):1043-1053. doi: 10.3171/2018.11.JNS181238.

Mooney MA, Sarris CE, Zhou JJ, Barkhoudarian G, Chicoine MR, Fernandez-Miranda JC, Gardner PA, Hardesty DA, Jahnke H, Kelly DF, Liebelt BD, Mayberg MR, Prevedello DM, Sfondouris J, Sheehy JP, Chandler JP, Yuen KCJ, White WL, Little AS; TRANSSPHER Study Group. Proposal and Validation of a Simple Grading Scale (TRANSSPHER Grade) for Predicting Gross Total Resection of Nonfunctioning Pituitary Macroadenomas After Transsphenoidal Surgery. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2019 Nov 1;17(5):460-469. doi: 10.1093/ons/opy401.

Mooney MA, Herro AM, Fintelmann RE, Mayberg MR, Barkhoudarian G, Gardner PA, Prevedello DM, Chicoine MR, Kelly DF, Chandler JP, Jahnke H, White WL, Little AS. Visual Field Outcome Reporting in Neurosurgery: Lessons Learned from a Prospective, Multicenter Study of Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery. World Neurosurg. 2018 Dec;120:e326-e332. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.08.069. Epub 2018 Aug 23.