LUCKNOW, Nov. 2 -- A neurosurgical team at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee (Civil) Hospital successfully removed a large pituitary tumour through the nasal route, without opening the patient's skull. The patient, a resident of Deoria working in Dubai, had suffered progressive vision loss due to the tumour but regained eyesight following the surgery, stated a press release shared with the media on Sunday. Neurosurgeon, Dr Vinod Kumar Tiwari performed the procedure using the microscopic transnasal transsphenoidal technique (a minimally invasive brain surgery performed through the nose to remove a tumour from the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain), accessing the pituitary gland through the nasal cavity and sphenoid sinus, it stated. The technique allows surgeons to remove tumours at the base of the brain while avoiding conventional skull-opening surgery. Pituitary macroadenomas can press against the optic nerves, causing impaired vision and loss of visual field. Their removal is technically challenging because of the gland's proximity to critical brain structures, it stated further. Civil Hospital director, Dr GP Gupta said the surgery demonstrated the availability of specialised treatment at government hospitals. Such procedures can cost around Rs.15-20 lakh at private corporate hospitals, he added. Anaesthetist Dr SK Singh was also part of the surgical team....