Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate the precise histological characteristics of
the boundary, using surgical specimens from patients who underwent intensive resection of
“microsurgical pseudocapsule”of clinically non-functioning pituitary tumors (CNPTs).
Furthermore, we compared the remission rate of CNPTs between subjects with (Group 1)
and without (Group 2) intensive resection of microsurgical pseudocapsule in order to
correlate the histological complete resection and endocrinological remission.
Patients and Methods : Between January 2000 and December 2007, 113 patients underwent
intensive microsurgical dissection during the transsphenoidal surgery in one hospital (Group
1). In the other hand, 24 patients underwent conventional subcapsular resection without
intentionally removing the microsurgical pseudocapsule in another hospital (Group 2).
Results : The overall surgical remission rate in Group 1 with intensive resection of
microsurgical pseudocapsule were statistically higher than the rates in Group 2 (without
intensive resection of microsurgical pseudocapsule) (p=0.032). However, there were no
statistical differences in postoperative hormonal function change between Group 1 and 2.
Conclusions : Our results indicate that aggressive resection of psuedocapsules increases the
cure rate without aggravating pituitary function