We describe an extremely rare case of a primary intrasellar esthesioneuroblastoma.

The captive bolt gun (slaughterer's gun) is a tool used in the meat industry for "humane killing" of animals. Used with the intent of suicide, the captive bolt gun causes very serious injuries. We analysed 19 self-inflicted head injuries with captive bolt gun during the past 20 years. Autopsy of 20 pigs killed by this method was also performed. All 19 cases were middle-aged men from rural areas, with low level of education, and without a previous psychiatric history. Five of them used the captive bolt gun daily in their professional activities, while the remaining 14 handled it only sometimes. In seven cases suicide was primarily successful, while in five patients, despite intensive medical care, serious craniocerebral injuries eventually resulted in death. Total mortality was 63.2%. The clinical appearance of the entrance wound and the imaging characteristics of the cranial trauma are very specific, and can be easily differentiated from firearm or other penetrating injuries. These wounds were always primarily infected with mixed bacterial flora from the skin. Therefore, besides radical primary wound care, especially of the wound canal with removal of foreign bodies, it is important to administer high doses of wide spectrum antibiotics.

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In this paper we aim to reminisce the role of the Austrian surgeon Hermann Schloffer (1868-1937) as the pioneer of a trans-sphenoidal approach to the pituitary gland. On the 16th of March 1907 he operated a patient with pituitary tumor and published his report in the Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift on 23rd May 1907. This paper is to recall the 100th anniversary of this event. Schloffer's method was spread and modified worldwide, Croatia included, a country in which the interest in trans-sphenoidal approach to pituitary tumors has not diminished or been lost, but slowly modified. Today, almost a whole century after its introduction, it is still used to operate about 95% of sellar region tumors.

Sphenoid sinus aspergilloma can be found during trans-sphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas. Sphenoid sinus extirpation followed by adenomectomy is the treatment of choice unless invasive aspergilloma is encountered requiring additional antifungal therapy.