Analysis of visual impairment score in a series of 48 tuberculum sellae meningiomas operated on via the endoscopic endonasal approach

Objective: Tuberculum sellae meningioma (TSM) represents a complex skull base tumor. The primary goals of surgical treatment are represented by maximal safe resection and visual recovery; therefore, appropriate patient selection is critical to optimize results. In the last 2 decades, the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) has appeared as a successful and viable strategy for the management of these tumors. The authors identified preoperative factors associated with extent of resection and visual outcome after EEA for TSM. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the authors analyzed patients who underwent extended endoscopic endonasal surgery for TSM between January 2005 and April 2022 at the Division of Neurosurgery, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy. Tumor size, vessel encasement, and optic canal involvement were classified according to University of California, San Francisco, score. Visual acuity and visual fields were analyzed according to the visual impairment score (VIS), defined as a four-level classification: grade 1 (VIS 0-25), grade 2 (VIS 26-50), grade 3 (VIS 51-75), and grade 4 (VIS 76-100). Ophthalmological functions were tested preoperatively and during the early postoperative period (within 6 months after surgery) and late postoperative period. Results: A total of 48 patients were enrolled. Forty-one (85.4%) patients experienced blurred vision or visual field defect as a presenting sign. Gross-total resection was achieved in 40 (83.3%), near-total resection in 2 (4.2%), and subtotal resection in 6 (12.5%). Visual defect improved in 82.9% (34/41) of cases, 12.2% (5/41) had no significant changes, and 2.4% (1/41) had worsened visual defect. The mean change in VIS was 42% (95% CI 58.77-31.23). Visual outcome was poorer when preoperative VIS (VIS-pre) was greater than 25 (p = 0.02). Six postoperative CSF leaks occurred (12.5%), and 1 patient (2.1%) required revision surgery. Conclusions: The EEA is a safe and effective approach for TSM removal, with the advantage of preserving optic apparatus vascularization, and can promote gross-total resection and visual improvement. The authors have defined four categories based on VIS that relate to postoperative outcome: the lower the VIS-pre, the higher the rate of postoperative VIS improvement. This finding may be useful for predicting a patient's visual outcome at the preoperative stage.