The Trans-Nasal Trans-sphenoidal (TNTS) Surgery in India: Treating Pituitary Gland Tumors
Pituitary Tumors develop in the pituitary gland, which is about the size of a pea and located at the base of the skull. They may produce too many hormones that control various body functions.
Most of these tumors are benign, which means they are noncancerous. They can be removed with pituitary tumor surgery in India, and their growth can be controlled via radiation and medications.
Pituitary gland tumors can be treated in several ways. Here, we will focus on the most popular surgery: Endoscopic surgery. We will also discuss the types of pituitary tumors and their associated symptoms. Let us delve into the details one by one.
Types of Pituitary Tumors
There are three kinds of pituitary tumors:
- Pituitary benign adenomas: Those aren’t cancerous. A pituitary tumor grows slowly and doesn’t spread.
- ‘Invasive pituitary adenomas: Benign tumors that can spread to the skull or sinus cavity.
- Pituitary carcinomas: Cancerous tumors in the pituitary gland. They can spread to other parts of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) or even outside of it. There are very few malignant pituitary tumors.
Depending on the type and size of the tumor, the pituitary function may be impaired or normal.
- A non-functioning pituitary tumor doesn’t make extra hormones.
- A functioning pituitary tumor produces more than normal hormones. Pituitary tumors are usually functioning ones.
- The extra hormones made by pituitary tumors may cause certain signs or symptoms of the disease.
Recognizing The Symptoms of Pituitary tumor
Pituitary tumors can press on or damage parts of the pituitary gland; thus, producing one or more hormones stops. The too little hormone will affect the gland or organ it controls. You might get these signs and symptoms if you are suffering from a pituitary gland tumor:
- Some loss of vision.
- Loss of body hair.
- Women have less frequent or no menstrual periods or milk from the breasts.
- In men, facial hair loss, breast tissue growth, and impotence.
- In women and men, lower sex drive.
- In children, growth impairment and delayed sexual development.
- Too much prolactin causes infertility in women and impotence in men.
- Too much ACTH may cause weight gain. Thin skin may have purple or pink stretch marks on the chest or abdomen.
- Too much growth hormone may cause adults to have acromegaly (growth of the bones in the face, hands, and feet). In children, the whole body may grow much taller and more extensive than usual.
- Too much thyroid-stimulating hormone may cause Irregular heartbeat and weight loss.
Other general signs and symptoms of pituitary tumors:
How is a pituitary tumor diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider may perform the following tests before pituitary tumor surgery in Delhi. These tests are:
- MRI
- Blood and Urine tests to see hormonal levels
- Eye and Neurological examination
- Biopsy
Treatment options available for Pituitary Tumor in India
The treatment option depends on the following factors when you decide to get your tumor removal in India:
- The type and size of the tumor
- If the tumor is making hormones
- If the tumor is causing problems with vision
- If the tumor has spread into the brain
- If the tumor has recurred or has just been diagnosed
The various treatment options to treat pituitary tumors in India are:
Pituitary Tumor Surgery in India
- Transsphenoidal Surgery: TNTS surgery in India is a type of surgery in which instruments are inserted into the brain via an incision made under the upper lip or at the bottom of the nose to reach the pituitary gland. An endoscope and a curette are inserted through the nose and sphenoid bone to remove the tumor from the pituitary gland.
- Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery: Endoscopic pituitary tumor surgery in Delhi is a type of surgery in which an endoscope is inserted through a cut made at the back of the nose and then through the sphenoid bone to reach the pituitary gland. An endoscope is a thin tube-like instrument with a light to remove the tumor inside.
- Craniotomy: It is a surgical procedure that involves opening the skull to gain access to the brain tumor.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy kills cancer cells or stops them from growing with high-energy X-rays. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation to the cancerous area. This type of radiation therapy may include the following:
- Radiosurgery with stereotactic heads: A rigid frame holds the head still during treatment. Radiation is aimed directly at the tumor by a machine. The procedure doesn’t involve surgery. You can also call it stereotaxic radiosurgery, radiosurgery, or radiation surgery.
Treatment with drugs
Pituitary tumors can be stopped from producing too many hormones with drugs.
Treatment with chemotherapy
Cancer of the pituitary gland can be treated with chemotherapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. Chemotherapy kills or prevents cancer cells from dividing by killing or stopping them. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, it enters the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is injected directly into the cerebrospinal fluid, an organ, or a body cavity, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas. Chemotherapy works differently depending on the type of cancer.
Endoscopic Trans-Nasal Trans-Sphenoidal Approach for Pituitary Adenomas- The Most Popular Treatment Option in India
TNTS surgery in India is a surgical procedure used to treat pituitary adenoma. In this procedure, the pituitary gland is reached straight via the nasal path, taking less time. It is minimally invasive, and the recovery time is quicker. Let’s dig into how this procedure is performed. It is the most popular treatment option in Indian hospitals for Pituitary Tumor patients.
Before the surgery
- You will have a detailed consultation with your neurosurgeon specializing in pituitary disorders in the best hospitals for pituitary tumor surgery in India. They will order several tests to understand the size, location, and type of tumor.
- You may also undergo additional testing to evaluate any impact on your vision.
- If you are on any medication that affects your hormones, your healthcare provider will adjust the medications to prepare you for the surgery.
- Since you will be placed under anesthesia during the surgery, you will have a detailed discussion with the anesthesiologist to discuss the entire plan.
- If you have any doubts or concerns regarding the surgery, have a detailed conversation with your healthcare provider to understand transnasal transsphenoidal surgery in India and its implications.
Knowing the Procedure
- Anesthesia: You will be put under general anesthesia to ensure comfort.
- Nasal Passage Access: The surgeon inserts an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a camera) behind the nasal passages and advances it towards the sphenoid sinus. To open the front of the sinus wall, the doctor removes a small portion of the nasal septum.
- Sphenoid Sinus Entry: Once the surgeon reaches the sphenoid sinus, they cut a small hole in the bone to access the pituitary gland. This is usually done with specialized tools like drills or microdebriders.
- Tumor removal: The surgeon uses an endoscope and other microsurgical tools like a curette to remove the pituitary adenoma. The endoscope gives the surgeon a clear view of the surgical field and allows him to navigate the delicate structures.
- Surgical closure: Afterwards, the surgeon closes the nasal passage and sphenoid sinus incisions. The healing process might involve tissue grafts or synthetic materials.
After the Surgery
After TNTS surgery, here is what you can expect:
- Following the pituitary tumor surgery in Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, you will be shifted to the ICU, where healthcare professionals will monitor your vitals, pain levels, and overall condition.
- It is normal to experience some pain and discomfort for a few days after the surgery. Communicate your pain level to your healthcare providers after the surgery.
- Since the surgery involves accessing the pituitary gland through the nasal passage, you must care for your nose during recovery. Use saline nasal sprays and keep the nasal passage moist.
- The pituitary tumor affects the hormone level, and the surgery aims to return the hormone levels to normal. After the surgery, your hormone levels will be monitored closely to ensure complete recovery.
- Attend all the follow-up appointments with your doctor to assess your progress and monitor your recovery.
Recovery After the Surgery
- Pituitary Tumor Surgery in India involves an almost negligible incision, so there is no defragmentation of the patient’s face. As a result, it offers faster recovery time. Generally, the patients leave the hospital within two days.
- General precautions include avoiding straining, heavy lifting, and nose blowing for at least a week.
- Aspirin and anti-inflammatory medicines are prohibited up to two weeks after surgery.
- If everything goes normal, it may take two weeks to return to a routine.
Best Doctors For Pituitary Tumor Surgery in India
Hospital |
Best Doctor |
Cost |
Medanta Medicity, (JCI Accreditation) |
Dr VP Singh (Chairman Neurosurgery) |
8000$ |
Max Hospital, Saket, (JCI Accreditation) |
Prof. (Col.) Dr. Bipin Walia, (Principal Director and Head – of Neurosurgery ) |
7000$ |
Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, (JCI Accreditation) |
Dr. Sudheer Kumar Tyagi (Senior Consultant ) |
9000$ |
Fortis, Memorial Research Institute, (JCI Accreditation) |
Dr. Rana Patir, (Director Neurosurgery), |
8500$ |
Artemis Hospital, (JCI Accreditation) |
Dr Aditya Gupta, (Chief Neurosurgery & CNS Radiosurgery) Co-Chief (Cyberknife Centre) |
6500$ |
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