Pituitary Tumors

THE purpose of this paper is to discuss the treatment of pituitary tumors, which lies in the borderland between cranial and trans-sphenoidal surgery.First PeriodSearch for a Method of Reaching Pituitary TumorsHistorically, the search for methods that would best reach pituitary tumors began in the years 1904–1910. During this period cranial as well as trans-sphenoidal approaches were employed. The pioneering trials of this period were marked by high mortality.Second PeriodEfforts to Reduce the Operative Risk Cranial surgery. The next decade (1910–1920) found the surgeons striving for the improvement of both types of surgery to reduce . . .