Abstract:
There have been several studies on anosmia following operations
on anterior circulation aneurysms, but no similar study has yet been
reported on pituitary gland adenomas which required the transcranial
approach.
In this study, 38 cases with pituitary gland adenomas, for whom
the pterional approach was employed, were observed retrospectively
from the point of view of postoperative olfactory nerve function.
In the postoperative period only one case complained of impaired
sense of smell on the operated side. Eight cases objectively showed
olfactory nerve disfunctions. The olfactory nerve function could be
preserved at a relatively high rate of 79 per cent. This high rate, we
think, resulted from the microtechnique employed as well as the
relatively cautious frontal retraction which was less than 1,5 cm.
