Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29027644›Full record

SynthesisPituitary2018

Treatment of empty sella associated with visual impairment: a systematic review of chiasmapexy techniques.

Lina Raffaella Barzaghi, Carmine Antonio Donofrio, Pietro Panni, Marco Losa, Pietro Mortini

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Pituitary, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
1.9field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 23 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Risk factors and visual outcomes for postoperative optic neuropathy following pituitary adenoma surgery: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026
    Observational
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Lina Raffaella BarzaghiPituitary Unit of the Department of Neurosurgery and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milan, Italy.
Carmine Antonio DonofrioPituitary Unit of the Department of Neurosurgery and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milan, Italy. donofrio.carmine@hsr.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9123-8158
Pietro PanniPituitary Unit of the Department of Neurosurgery and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milan, Italy.
Marco LosaPituitary Unit of the Department of Neurosurgery and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milan, Italy.
Pietro MortiniPituitary Unit of the Department of Neurosurgery and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milan, Italy.
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeChiasmapexy is a poorly described surgical procedure adopted to correct the downward displacement of suprasellar visual system (SVS) into an empty sella (ES) causing visual worsening. The aim of our study is to define the indications for extradural and intradural chiasmapexy.

methodsA systematic literature review has been performed on MEDLINE database (US National Library of Medicine), including only articles that depicted cases of surgically treated patients affected by ES and progressive delayed visual worsening. Moreover, we have reported three cases of secondary ES syndrome (SESS) with visual worsening treated in our Department with transsphenoidal (TS) microsurgical intradural approach. Finally, we have compared the results of extradural and intradural chiasmapexy described in literature.

resultsThe etiology of visual impairment is different in primary and secondary ESS. In primary ESS (PESS) the only predisposing factor is a dehiscence of diaphragma sellae, and the anatomical distortion caused by displacement of optic chiasm or traction of pituitary stalk and infundibulum may determine a direct injury of neural fibers and ischemic damage of SVS. In PESS the mechanical elevation of SVS performed through extradural approach is sufficient to resolve the main pathologic mechanism. In SESS, arachnoidal adhesions play an important role in addition to downward herniation of SVS. Consequently, the surgical technique should provide elevation of SVS combined to intradural release of scar tissue and arachnoidal adhesions. In treatment of SESS, the intradural approaches result to be more effective, guaranteeing the best visual outcomes with the lowest complications rates.

conclusionsThe intradural chiasmapexy is indicated in treatment of SESS, instead the extradural approaches are suggested for surgical management of PESS.

Indexed as

Vision, OcularEmpty Sella SyndromeHumansNeurosurgical ProceduresOptic ChiasmPostoperative ComplicationsTreatment OutcomeVision DisordersChiasmapexyEmpty sellaIntraduralPituitary surgeryTranssphenoidalVisual worsening

Identifiers

PMID29027644
OpenAlexW2761252922

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.