To investigate the clinical treatment strategy of large and giant pituitary adenomas invading the cavernous sinus.

One hundred and nine patients with large and giant pituitary adenomas invading the cavernous sinus, admitted to our hospital from January 2010 to December 2018, were chosen in our study. Four patients with prolactin-type pituitary adenomas received oral treatment with bromocriptine; the remaining 105 patients received surgical treatment, and choices of surgical approach were based on classification of pituitary adenomas. The clinical data and efficacies of these patients accepted different treatment approach were retrospectively analyzed.

Of the 105 patients with pituitary adenomas, 63 (60%) were of type I, 15 (14.3%) were of type II, 18 (17.1%) were of type III, and 9 (8.6%) were of type IV. Single extended transsphenoidal approach was used in 75 patients, transcranial approach was used in 26 patients, and combined extended transsphenoidal and transcranial approach was used in 4 patients. Gross total tumor resection was achieved in 86 patients, subtotal resection in 17 patients, and partial resection in two patients. Ten patients had new cranial nerve palsy after surgery, including 7 with oculomotor nerve palsy and three with abductor nerve palsy; two patients with preoperative neurological paralysis were aggravated, and both of them were oculomotor nerves; transient insipidus was noted in 19 patients and electrolyte disorder was noted in 23 patients; no permanent insipidus, cerebrospinal fluid leakage or intracranial infection, and no new or aggravated visual field vision disorder were noted.

Reasonable clinical treatment strategies and appropriate microsurgical approaches can achieve good therapeutic effect in patients with large and giant pituitary adenomas invading the cavernous sinus.

Cavernous sinus; Pituitary adenoma; Treatment strategy; Prolactin