Is endoscopic resection a useful technique for a cavernous sinus sellar cavernoma? A case report and literature review

Background Cavernous sinus cavernous malformations (CSCMs) is a vascular malformation of the cavernous sinus. Nowadays, there is an increasing preference to withhold using the terms cavernoma or cavernous hemangioma in order to stop considering these lesions as vascular neoplasms. These lesions are highly vascularized making surgical resection a challenge, mainly in endoscopic approaches. We present a case of this tumor treated in our institution with an endoscopic endonasal approach and incomplete resection. Because of the strenuous resection through this approach, we systematically reviewed the reported endoscopic cases of CSCMs to determine their intraoperative complications, results and tumor features.Methods Using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, one database (PubMed) and crossed references were queried for CSCMs from 1948 to 2020. Data regarding demographic features, clinical presentation, MRI features, surgical results and overall pathology features extracted.Results Eighteen patients were selected (including our case). The mean age was 50.4 ± 14 years. Pituitary dysfunction and cavernous sinus nerve compression were the most reported symptoms. Only five cases (27%) reported a gross total resection (GTR) through endoscopic endonasal approach. Intraoperative bleeding was the most frequent intraoperative complication.Conclusion We present a comprehensive analysis of every reported CSCM treated through endoscopic approach. Partial or subtotal resection are the most used techniques because of the intraoperative bleeding and the adherence to surrounding structures. Radiotherapy is a very good option for patients with incomplete resections.