Transsphenoidal surgery
Encyclopedia
Transsphenoidal surgery is a type of surgery
in which surgical instruments are inserted into part of the brain by going through the nose and the sphenoid bone
(a butterfly-shaped bone at the base of the skull
). Transsphenoidal surgery is used to remove tumors of the pituitary gland
.
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
in which surgical instruments are inserted into part of the brain by going through the nose and the sphenoid bone
Sphenoid bone
The sphenoid bone is an unpaired bone situated at the base of the skull in front of the temporal bone and basilar part of the occipital bone.The sphenoid bone is one of the seven bones that articulate to form the orbit...
(a butterfly-shaped bone at the base of the skull
Base of the skull
The base of skull is the most inferior area of the skull, composed of the endocranium and lower parts of the skull roof.-Bones:*Ethmoid bone*Sphenoid bone*Occipital bone*Frontal bone*Parietal bone*Temporal bone**Petrous portion of the temporal bone...
). Transsphenoidal surgery is used to remove tumors of the pituitary gland
Pituitary gland
In vertebrate anatomy the pituitary gland, or hypophysis, is an endocrine gland about the size of a pea and weighing 0.5 g , in humans. It is a protrusion off the bottom of the hypothalamus at the base of the brain, and rests in a small, bony cavity covered by a dural fold...
.
External links
- Transsphenoidal surgery entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms