Effect of pituitary stalk preservation during craniopharyngioma removal on pituitary function, extent of resection, and recurrence: systematic review and meta-analysis

J Neurosurg 142:741–755, 2025

The meta-analysis evaluates the impact of pituitary stalk preservation during craniopharyngioma surgery on pituitary function, resection extent, and recurrence. Preservation reduces diabetes insipidus risk but may increase incomplete resection risk in pediatric patients. Results are cautious due to small study sizes and reporting biases.

Pituitary stalk preservation reduces risk of postoperative diabetes insipidus (DI) and anterior pituitary dysfunction.

• Preservation shows no significant impact on tumor recurrence or extent of resection.

Pediatric patients face higher risk of incomplete resection with stalk preservation.

Meta-analysis included 33 studies with 2366 patients.

Significant heterogeneity observed in DI and recurrence risk across studies.

Stalk preservation benefits posterior pituitary function long-term, not anterior.

High risk of bias in individual studies; findings should be interpreted cautiously.

Subgroup analysis highlights higher recurrence risk in pediatric stalk preservation.

Egger’s test indicates publication bias in DI analysis.

Previous meta-analysis by Li et al. lacked age stratification and EEA cases.

Authors recommend careful consideration of stalk preservation in pediatric cases.

Lack of age-stratified data limits analysis and may increase bias.

Study methods followed PRISMA guidelines, with data extracted from eligible studies

Surgical management of Tuberculum sellae Meningiomas: Myths, facts, and controversies

Acta Neurochirurgica (2020) 162:631–640

The optimal management of tuberculum sellae (TS) meningiomas, especially the surgical strategy, continues to be debated along with several controversies that persist.

Methods A task force was created by the EANS skull base section committee along with its members and other renowned experts in the field to generate recommendations for the surgical management of these tumors on a European perspective. To achieve this, the task force also reviewed in detail the literature in this field and had formal discussions within the group.

Results The constituted task force dealt with the practice patterns that exist with respect to pre-operative radiological investigations, ophthalmological and endocrinological assessments, optimal surgical strategies, and follow-up management.

Conclusion This article represents the consensually derived opinion of the task force with respect to the surgical treatment of tuberculum sellae meningiomas. Areas of uncertainty where further clinical research is required were identified.

Transcavernous sinus pituitary gland transposition

Acta Neurochirurgica (2019) 161:2123–2127

Pituitary transposition preserving gland function is possible when approaching superior clival region tumors. Clinical experience along with detailed anatomical knowledge makes this technique safe and effective.

Method We present a step by step description of our technique based on the most recent anatomical references to get a pituitary transposition through the different compartments of the cavernous sinus. By this technique, we achieve minor gland manipulation and a better surgical view of this area. We support this technique with an anatomical analysis on cadaveric specimens and clarifying dissection images.

Conclusions Transcavernous sinus pituitary gland transposition is an easily feasible technique and allows gland shifting preserving pituitary function.