Evaluation of Olfactory Outcome After Frontolateral Approach for Treatment of Suprasellar Tumors

OBJECTIVE: We present the findings of our prospective study assessing olfactory function outcome in patients undergoing a frontolateral approach for the resection of suprasellar lesions. METHODS: Eighteen consecutive patients (7 females, 11 males) surgically treated at our institute for suprasellar tumors were included in this prospective study. Olfactory function was evaluated at the admission and 14 days after the surgery using the standard 12-item Sniffin' Sticks screening (SSS) test. The olfactory outcome was correlated to the following variables: tumor type, size, consistency, and extent of vertical and lateral growth. RESULTS: Preoperative and postoperative SSS test mean values were, respectively, 9.11 and 8.72 (not significant: P = 0.274). In only 1 case (5%), with larger suprasellar extension, the difference between preoperative and postoperative SSS was >= 3 (reduction of 5 points). At the subjective evaluation, no patient stated a deficit in smelling. CONCLUSION: The frontolateral craniotomy is a minimally invasive route to treat suprasellar tumors and has a low approach-related morbidity. It allows tumor resection with low risk for the olfactory function. A risk factor for postoperative olfactory deficit could be significant brain retraction.