World premiere: transoral robot-assisted excision for nasopharyngeal ectopic pituitary adenoma

Pituitary adenoma (PA), though rare, has seen increased incidence with widespread MRI use, enabling incidental diagnosis. Prevalence is approximately 1 case per 1000 in the general population. PAs are benign neoplasms, constituting 10 to 20% of intracranial tumours. Ectopic pituitary adenoma developed outside the sella turcica is exceptional. It may be hormonally active or not. These are called nonfunctional pituitary adenomas.

Here is reported a case of a man in his eighties with a nasopharyngeal ectopic pituitary adenoma treated by robot-assisted excision using a combined route. CARE guidelines have been respected.

A man in his eighties, asymptomatic, underwent an MRI for dizziness, revealing a nasopharyngeal mass. Despite being asymptomatic, nasofibroscopy revealed a reddish oval-shaped tissue mass attached to the roof of the nasopharynx. Biopsy identified a neuroendocrine tumor G1/G2. Imaging showed no local invasion or distant metastases. A multidisciplinary team decided on a robot-assisted surgical excision through the mouth, coupled with nasal endoscopy. The procedure achieved complete excision with clear margins and no adverse event has occurred.

This unique case involved the successful transoral robot-assisted excision of a nasopharyngeal ectopic pituitary adenoma, highlighting an innovative surgical approach.