The pituitary gland is a tiny body about the size of a peanut situated at the center of the skull with its stalk attached to the base of the brain. It produces a number of hormones, which control other endocrine glands. Sometimes a tumor of this gland can result in hormonal imbalance with growth and other metabolic derangements. The neurosurgical approach to this gland is fraught with difficulties owing to its location and vision shadow areas, and also injury to cranial nerves and other parts of the brain.

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Pituitary tumour

This gland can be very easily approached through the nose under Endoscopic control, since it is just a thin plate of bone away from the sphenoid sinus. Sphenoid sinus is routinely opened during Endoscopic nasal surgery to open the pituitary fosse through this sinus. Complete removal of tumor is possible since there are no vision shadow areas in this approach.