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Child health

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Skull Base Lesions in Children

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS in Rome, Italy, have presented their findings on the use of endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (EETS) in children to treat skull base lesions. The study, published in the journal Child's Nervous System, found that EETS is a safe and effective minimally invasive approach for treating a wide spectrum of skull base lesions in pediatric patients. The study's lead author, V. Mastropasqua, noted that the procedure offers a significant advantage over traditional surgical methods, with a high success rate and minimal complications.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included 67 children (mean age: 11.4 years) who underwent EETS for skull base pathologies between January 2006 and December 2022.
  • The most common histotype treated was pituitary adenoma (20 cases), followed by craniopharyngioma (19 cases).
  • The procedure resulted in a significant improvement or stability of preoperative symptoms in most patients.
  • No surgical mortality or late nasal and facial complications were observed, with only 10 cases (11.7%) experiencing postoperative CSF leak and 4 cases (6%) experiencing postoperative CSF infection.
  • Six patients (12%) presented new-onset diabetes insipidus after surgery, and 21 patients (31.3%) required at least one reoperation for recurrent or progressive disease.
  • The study concluded that EETS provides a safe and effective minimally invasive approach for treating skull base lesions in pediatric patients.

Statistics:

  • 67 children (mean age: 11.4 years) were operated on between January 2006 and December 2022.
  • 85 procedures were performed, including tumor residuals/recurrences after a previous craniotomy approach (11 cases).
  • 73% of patients achieved gross total resection (GTR), while 100% of patients achieved subtotal resection (STR) or partial resection (PR).
  • 21 patients (31.3%) required at least one reoperation for recurrent or progressive disease.
  • 18 patients (26.9%) with residual and/or malignant tumors received adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

Sources:

  • Mastropasqua, V., Rigante, M., Massimi, L., Frassanito, P., Bianchi, F., Farina, M., & Tamburrini, G. (2025). Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery in children: Widening the spectrum of oncological indications in the pediatric age group. Child's Nervous System, 41(1), 311.
  • NewsRx. (2025, November 1). New Obesity, Fitness and Wellness Study Findings Recently Were Reported by Researchers at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS (Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery in children: widening the spectrum of oncological ...). Pediatrics Week, 1049.

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