Abstract
Sixteen patients with pituitary fossa tumours with different intrasellar extension have been studied by facial reflex examination, a neurophysiological test for the trigemino-facial pathway. Impaired transmission along the reflex path was shown in patients with proved encroachments on the flexible walls of the cavernous sinuses, but with no tumour spread to the brain stem and facial nerve. The findings were consistent with a subclinical involvement of the first trigeminal division. Tumour removal resulted in recovery in nerve conduction. It is concluded that facial reflex examination is a valuable test for detecting cavernous sinus involvement in pituitary fossa tumours.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Banna M., Baker H. L., Jr, Houser O. W. Pituitary and parapituitary tumours on computed tomography. A review article based on 230 cases. Br J Radiol. 1980 Dec;53(636):1123–1143. doi: 10.1259/0007-1285-53-636-1123. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Baskin D. S., Boggan J. E., Wilson C. B. Transsphenoidal microsurgical removal of growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas. A review of 137 cases. J Neurosurg. 1982 May;56(5):634–641. doi: 10.3171/jns.1982.56.5.0634. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jung R. T., White M. C., Bowley N. B., Bydder G., Mashiter K., Joplin G. F. CT abnormalities of the pituitary in hyperprolactinaemic women with normal or equivocal sellae radiologically. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1982 Oct 16;285(6348):1078–1081. doi: 10.1136/bmj.285.6348.1078. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KUGELBERG E. [Facial reflexes]. Brain. 1952 Sep;75(3):385–396. doi: 10.1093/brain/75.3.385. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lindquist C., Mårtensson A. Mechanisms involved in the cat's blink reflex. Acta Physiol Scand. 1970 Oct;80(2):149–159. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.1970.tb04780.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Parkinson D. A surgical approach to the cavernous portion of the carotid artery. Anatomical studies and case report. J Neurosurg. 1965 Nov;23(5):474–483. doi: 10.3171/jns.1965.23.5.0474. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Patouillard P., Vanneuville G. Les parous du sinus caverneux. Neurochirurgie. 1972 Dec;18(7):551–560. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rhoton A. L., Jr, Hardy D. G., Chambers S. M. Microsurgical anatomy and dissection of the sphenoid bone, cavernous sinus and sellar region. Surg Neurol. 1979 Jul;12(1):63–104. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Robert C. M., Jr, Feigenbaum J. A., Stern E. W. Ocular palsy occurring with pituitary tumors. J Neurosurg. 1973 Jan;38(1):17–19. doi: 10.3171/jns.1973.38.1.0017. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rovit R. L., Fein J. M. Pituitary apoplexy: a review and reappraisal. J Neurosurg. 1972 Sep;37(3):280–288. doi: 10.3171/jns.1972.37.3.0280. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Syvertsen A., Haughton V. M., Williams A. L., Cusick J. F. The computed tomographic appearance of the normal pituitary gland and pituitary microadenomas. Radiology. 1979 Nov;133(2):385–391. doi: 10.1148/133.2.385. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Théron J., Chevalier D., Delvert M., Laffont J. Diagnosis of small and micro pituitary adenomas by intercavernous sinus venography. A preliminary report. Neuroradiology. 1979 Jul 1;18(1):23–30. doi: 10.1007/BF00346207. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Umansky F., Nathan H. The lateral wall of the cavernous sinus. With special reference to the nerves related to it. J Neurosurg. 1982 Feb;56(2):228–234. doi: 10.3171/jns.1982.56.2.0228. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]