scholarly journals Pituitary Adenomas: Presentations and Outcomes in a South Asian Country

Author(s):  
Muhammad Shahzad Shamim ◽  
Muhammad Ehsan Bari ◽  
Faraz Khursheed ◽  
Rashid Jooma ◽  
Syed Ather Enam

Objective:: The purpose of this retrospective review of all operated cases of pituitary adenomas in the last decade, is to define the demographic patterns and characteristics of such tumors and to assess surgical outcomes with regards to safety and efficacy of trans–sphenoidal tumor removal in our institution.Methods:Surgically treated pituitary adenomas presenting from 1995 till 2005 were reviewed for different variables. Results were expressed as mean, standard deviation and median for continuous and number with percentage for categorical data. Chi square test was applied to measure differences and significance was taken at p value < 0.05.Results:One hundred and twenty–five patients were operated for pituitary adenoma. Sixty–three percent were male and mean age was 37 years. Sixty percent of the patients presented with headache and/or visual symptoms. Twelve percent presented with pituitary apoplexy and 28% presented with symptoms due to pituitary hyperfunction. Fifty–five percent of patients had functioning and 44% had nonfunctioning adenomas. Mean pre operative tumor diameter from 86 pre op MRI scans was 26.76 mm (3–78 mm). Eighty–four percent of patients underwent trans–sphenoidal tumor resection and three percent had craniotomy. Mean size of post op residual tumor as calculated from 76 available post operative scans was 5.3 mm (range 0–31 mm). 17.6% of the patients required hormone replacement beyond three months and 10% were re–operated. Overall mortality was 1.6%.Conclusion:In Pakistan, patients are more likely to present either with apoplexy or with a giant pituitary adenoma than patients reported from developed countries. Overall, our results have been satisfactory and comparable with the literature.

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi158-vi158
Author(s):  
Syed Ather Enam ◽  
Fauzan Alam Hashmi ◽  
Sanam Mir Ghazi ◽  
Ahsan Ali Khan ◽  
Muhammad Bilal Tariq ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Giant pituitary adenomas (GPA) are uncommon and highly variable in morphology and extension. There is no scoring system that considers all the dimensions of adenoma invasion. We developed a new Giant Pituitary Adenoma score and report our surgical experience and evaluate outcomes after resection of these tumors in accordance with the preoperative score. METHODS We developed a novel scoring system for classifying giant pituitary adenomas, and 11-year data of GPA surgery at our center was collected retrospectively, based on this scoring system. GPA Score considered tumor’s parasellar extension, encasement of cavernous internal carotid artery (ICA), suprasellar extension &gt; 2 cm, suprasellar extension &gt; 4cm and retrosellar extension. Maximum possible score was 9. The scoring system was applied to 53 patients of GPA who underwent surgical resection between January 1, 2006, and December 2017. The Lundin-Pederson (ABC/2) method was used to calculate the tumor volume both pre- and post-resection and linear regression was used to assess the relationship between extent of tumor resection and GPA score. RESULTS The median age of the study population was 42.08 ± 16.49 years. The mean maximum diameter of the pituitary adenomas was 5.0 cm (range 4.0 cm-8.5cm) while the mean volume of the adenomas was 27.3 cm3 (range 10 cm3-149 cm3). There were 3 cases of score 2, 5 cases of score 3, 13 cases of score 4, 20 cases of score 5, 9 cases of score 6 and 3 cases of score 7. The range of tumor volumes of tumors for scores from 2-7 was 17.3 cm3 to 65.8 cm3 and GPA score was correlated with the percent residual tumor using linear regression that was statistically significant (p= 0.001). CONCLUSION GPA Score is a reliable scoring system to predict the extent and subsequent difficulty in tumor resection in GPA.


Author(s):  
Pedro Iglesias ◽  
Karina Arcano ◽  
Vanessa Triviño ◽  
Fernando Guerrero-Pérez ◽  
Víctor Rodríguez Berrocal ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Giant pituitary adenoma (≥4 cm) is a rare tumor whose clinical features and prognosis are not well known. Aim To evaluate the clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of giant non-functioning PA (gNFPA). Patients and Methods A retrospective multicenter study of gNFPA patients diagnosed in a 12-year period was performed. In each patient, clinical data and therapeutic outcomes were registered. Results Forty patients (24 men, age 54.2 ± 16.2 years) were studied. The maximum tumor diameter [median (interquartile range)] was 4.6 cm (4.1–5.1). Women had larger tumors [4.8 cm (4.2–5.4) vs. 4.5 cm (4.0–4.9); p=0.048]. Hypopituitarism [partial (n=22, 55%) or complete (n=9, 22.5%)] at diagnosis was present in 77.5% of the patients. Visual field defects were found in 90.9%. The most used surgical technique was endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal (EET) surgery (n=31, 77.5%). Radiotherapy was used in 11 (27.5%) patients (median dose 50.4 Gy, range 50–54). Thirty-seven patients were followed for 36 months (10–67 months). Although more than half of these patients showed tumor persistence (n=25, 67.6%), tumor size was significantly reduced [0.8 cm (0–2.5); p<0.001]. At last visit, 12 patients (32.4%) showed absence of tumor on MRI. Hypopituitarism rate was similar (75.0%), although with significant changes (p<0.001) in the distribution of the type of hypopituitarism. The absence of tumor at the last visit was positively associated with positive immunohistochemical staining for FSH (p=0.01) and LH (p=0.006) and negatively with female sex (p=0.011), cavernous sinus invasion (p=0.005) and the presence of Knosp grade 4 (p=0.013). Conclusion gNFPAs are more frequent in men but tumors are larger in women. Surgical treatment is followed by a complete tumor resection rate of approximately 30%. Positive immunostaining for gonadotropins is associated with tumor absence at last revision, while female sex and invasion of the cavernous sinuses with tumor persistence.


2008 ◽  
Vol 109 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle J. Clarke ◽  
Dana Erickson ◽  
M. Regina Castro ◽  
John L. D. Atkinson

Object Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)–secreting pituitary adenomas are rare, representing < 2% of all pituitary adenomas. Methods The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with TSH-secreting or clinically silent TSH-immunostaining pituitary tumors among all pituitary adenomas followed at their institution between 1987 and 2003. Patient records, including clinical, imaging, and pathological and surgical characteristics were reviewed. Twenty-one patients (6 women and 15 men; mean age 46 years, range 26–73 years) were identified. Of these, 10 patients had a history of clinical hyperthyroidism, of whom 7 had undergone ablative thyroid procedures (thyroid surgery/131I ablation) prior to the diagnosis of pituitary adenoma. Ten patients had elevated TSH preoperatively. Seven patients presented with headache, and 8 presented with visual field defects. All patients underwent imaging, of which 19 were available for imaging review. Sixteen patients had macroadenomas. Results Of the 21 patients, 18 underwent transsphenoidal surgery at the authors' institution, 2 patients underwent transsphenoidal surgery at another facility, and 1 was treated medically. Patients with TSH-secreting tumors were defined as in remission after surgery if they had no residual adenoma on imaging and had biochemical evidence of hypo-or euthyroidism. Patients with TSH-immunostaining tumors were considered in remission if they had no residual tumor. Of these 18 patients, 9 (50%) were in remission following surgery. Seven patients had residual tumor; 2 of these patients underwent further transsphenoidal resection, 1 underwent a craniotomy, and 4 underwent postoperative radiation therapy (2 conventional radiation therapy, 1 Gamma Knife surgery, and 1 had both types of radiation treatment). Two patients had persistently elevated TSH levels despite the lack of evidence of residual tumor. On pathological analysis and immunostaining of the surgical specimen, 17 patients had samples that stained positively for TSH, 8 for α-subunit, 10 for growth hormone, 7 for prolactin, 2 for adrenocorticotrophic hormone, and 1 for follicle-stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone. Eleven patients (61%) ultimately required thyroid hormone replacement therapy, and 5 (24%) required additional pituitary hormone replacement. Of these, 2 patients required treatment for new anterior pituitary dysfunction as a complication of surgery, and 2 patients with preoperative partial anterior pituitary dysfunction developed complete panhypopituitarism. One patient had transient diabetes insipidus. The remainder had no change in pituitary function from their preoperative state. Conclusions Thyroid-stimulating hormone–secreting pituitary lesions are often delayed in diagnosis, are frequently macroadenomas and plurihormonal in terms of their pathological characteristics, have a heterogeneous clinical picture, and are difficult to treat. An experienced team approach will optimize results in the management of these uncommon lesions.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 1104-1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Karsy ◽  
Christian A Bowers ◽  
Jonathan Scoville ◽  
Bornali Kundu ◽  
Mohammed A Azab ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Pituitary adenomas are among the most common primary brain tumors. Recently, overlapping surgery has been curbed in many institutions because of the suggestion there might be more significant adverse events, despite several studies showing that complication rates are equivalent. OBJECTIVE To assess complications and costs associated with overlapping surgery during the transsphenoidal resection of pituitary adenomas. METHODS A single-center, retrospective cohort study was performed to evaluate the cases of patients who underwent a transsphenoidal approach for pituitary tumor resection. Patient, surgical, complication, and cost (value-driven outcome) variables were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 629 patients (302 nonoverlapping, 327 overlapping cases) were identified. No significant differences in age (P = .6), sex (P = .5), tumor type (P = .5), or prior rates of pituitary adenoma resection (P = .5) were seen. Similar presenting symptoms were observed in the 2 groups, and follow-up length was comparable (P = .3). No differences in tumor sizes (P = .5), operative time (P = .4), fat/fascia use (P = .4), or cerebrospinal fluid diversion (P = .8) were seen between groups. The gross total resection rate was not significantly different (P = .9), and no difference in recurrence rate was seen (P = .4). A comparable complication rate was seen between groups (P = .6). No differences in total or subtotal costs were seen either. CONCLUSION The results of this study offer additional evidence that overlapping surgery does not result in worsened complications, lengthened surgery, or increased patient cost for patients undergoing transsphenoidal resection of pituitary adenomas. Thus, studies and policy aiming to improve patient safety and cost should focus on optimizing other aspects of healthcare delivery.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahadir Koylu ◽  
Suleyman Nahit Sendur ◽  
Seda Hanife Oguz ◽  
Selcuk Dagdelen ◽  
Tomris A Erbas

Abstract The prevalence of growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenoma is around 11-13% of all pituitary adenomas. Giant GH-secreting pituitary adenomas (≥ 4 cm) are rare tumors, and its prevalence of among acromegalic patients is &lt;5%. This is a retrospective cohort study including patients with giant GH-secreting pituitary adenomas. The study population consisted of 10 patients (5 M/5 F). The mean age at diagnosis was 33.0±12.9 yrs (11-55 yrs). The mean delay between first symptom onset and diagnosis was 2.9 years. The most frequent symptoms were acral enlargement and facial changes (80%), followed by headache (70%) and visual deterioration (50%). One patient had epilepsy. Amenorrhea was presented in three females but obvious galactorrhea in two. The mean adenoma diameter was 42.6±4.7 mm (40-51 mm) at diagnosis. The vast majority of adenomas presented suprasellar extension (100%) or cavernous sinus invasion (80%). Cystic adenomas accounted for 50%. At presentation, mean GH and IGF-1 levels were 40.0±21.4 ng/mL (14.8-51.0) and 2.62±1.09 x ULN (1.08-3.96), respectively. Six patients presented with PRL cosecretion. At diagnosis maximal tumor diameter was not correlated with GH or IGF-1 levels. All patients underwent pituitary surgery as first-line treatment. Three cases were treated with an endoscopic approach and four cases with a microscopic approach. Transcranial approach was also employed in three cases. Postoperative mean GH and IGF-1 levels were 14.9±16.1 ng/mL (0.6-51.0) and 2.25.±0.82 x ULN (1.48-3.74), respectively. After first surgery, only one patient had more than 50% reduction in IGF-1 levels. Five patients (50%) underwent repeat surgery on two to three procedures because remission was not achieved. Postoperative somatostatin receptor ligands (SRLs) were used by all patients. Six patients were treated with dopamine agonist in combination with SRL. Six patients (60%) received postoperative radiotherapy. The mean follow-up period was 12.6±5.3 yrs (4-21 yrs). The mean GH and IGF-1 levels were 1.47±1.54 ng/mL (0.08-5.25) and 0.73±0.44 x ULN (0.08-1.56), respectively at the last visit. Residual adenoma was present at the last MRI in eight patients (mean diameter 9.0±3.6 mm). Panhypopituitarism rose from 10% at baseline to 30% at the last visit. During follow-up, one patient diagnosed breast cancer, while another diagnosed thyroid papillary cancer. Giant GH-secreting pituitary adenomas can have a clinically aggressive behavior with mass effect. Moreover, treatment in patients with giant GH-secreting pituitary adenoma is complex and multimodal therapy is necessary.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. E10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler Cardinal ◽  
Martin J. Rutkowski ◽  
Alexander Micko ◽  
Mark Shiroishi ◽  
Chia-Shang Jason Liu ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEAcromegaly is a disease of acral enlargement and elevated serum levels of insulin-like growth factor–1 (IGF-1) and growth hormone (GH), usually caused by a pituitary adenoma. A lack of consensus on factors that reliably predict outcomes in acromegalic patients following endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (EETS) warrants additional investigation.METHODSThe authors identified 52 patients with acromegaly who underwent an endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) for resection of a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma. Preoperative and postoperative tumor and endocrinological characteristics such as tumor size, invasiveness, and GH/IGF-1 levels were evaluated as potential indicators of postoperative hormonal remission. Endocrinological remission was defined as postoperative IGF-1 levels at or below the age- and sex-normalized values.RESULTSThe 52 patients had a mean age of 50.7 ± 13.4 years and a mean follow-up duration of 24.4 ± 19.1 months. Ten patients (19%) had microadenomas and 42 (81%) had macroadenomas. Five patients (9.6%) had giant adenomas. Forty-four tumors (85%) had extrasellar extension, with 40 (77%) exhibiting infrasellar invasion, 18 (35%) extending above the sella, and 7 (13%) invading the cavernous sinuses. Thirty-six patients (69%) underwent gross-total resection (GTR; mean maximal tumor diameter 1.47 cm), and 16 (31%) underwent subtotal resection (STR; mean maximal tumor diameter 2.74 cm). Invasive tumors were significantly larger, and Knosp scores were negatively correlated with GTR. Thirty-eight patients (73%) achieved hormonal remission after EEA resection alone, which increased to 87% with adjunctive medical therapy. Ninety percent of patients with microadenomas and 86% of patients with macroadenomas achieved hormonal remission. Preoperative IGF-1 and postoperative day 1 (POD1) GH levels were inversely correlated with hormonal remission. Postoperative CSF leakage occurred in 2 patients (4%), and none experienced vision loss, death, or injury to internal carotid arteries or cranial nerves.CONCLUSIONSEndoscopic transsphenoidal resection of GH-secreting pituitary adenomas is a safe and highly effective treatment for achieving hormonal remission and tumor control in up to 87% of patients with acromegaly when combined with postoperative medical therapy. Patients with lower preoperative IGF-1 and POD1 GH levels, with less invasive pituitary adenomas, and who undergo GTR are more likely to achieve postoperative biochemical remission.


Author(s):  
J Han ◽  
AL Hebb ◽  
SA Imran ◽  
DB Clarke

Background: Post-operative delayed hormone dysfunction (DHD) in patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) is highly variable and is predicted based on limited evidence. This study was undertaken to assess the likelihood of developing new DHD and its relation to the extent of tumor resection and recurrence. Methods: Four hundred fifty-five prospectively collected patient files were reviewed from our Program’s database. Inclusion criteria: NFPA; underwent surgery; and minimum follow-up of two years. Tumor recurrence was correlated with DHD (starting one year post-operatively) based on standardized annual imaging and hormone testing. Results: Eighty-nine patients met our inclusion criteria: 39 males and 50 females; mean follow-up was 4.3yrs (ranging from 2 to 11yrs). With no post-op residual tumor, the probability of developing DHD was only 7% by six years; no patient in this group developed DHD after three years of follow-up. In contrast, by six years, the probability of DHD was 33% in patients with residual stable tumor, and 54% in those with tumor recurrence/growth. Conclusions: By six years, approximately one third of patients with incomplete resection, and over half with tumor regrowth, will likely develop DHD. In contrast, the risk of DHD with complete tumor resection is <10% and, when seen, occurs within three years of surgery.


2010 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. E9 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Bellut ◽  
Martin Hlavica ◽  
Christoph Schmid ◽  
René L. Bernays

Object Acromegaly is a rare disease, usually caused by a growth hormone (GH)–producing pituitary adenoma. If untreated, severe cardiovascular, metabolic, cosmetic, and orthopedic disturbances will result. Surgery is generally recommended as the first-line treatment. Transsphenoidal surgical techniques were recently extended by the introduction of intraoperative MR (iMR) imaging. In the present study, the contribution of ultra-low-field (0.15-T) iMR imaging to tumor resection, complication avoidance, and endocrinological and neurological outcome was analyzed. Methods A series of 39 consecutive transsphenoidal iMR imaging–guided (using the PoleStar N20 device) surgical procedures performed between September 2005 and August 2009 for GH-producing pituitary adenomas was retrospectively analyzed. In addition to the patients' clinical data, the following criteria were evaluated independently: duration of surgery; length of hospital stay; endocrinological parameters; results of neurological examinations; and pre-, post-, and intraoperative MR imaging results. Results Thirty-seven patients with acromegaly underwent 39 transsphenoidal surgeries for pituitary adenomas. During a median follow-up period of 30 months (range 9–56 months), the remission rate was 73.5% in 34 patients with primary surgery and 20% in 5 cases with previous surgery; overall the remission rate was 66.7%. There were no serious postoperative complications. Detection of tumor remnant on iMR imaging led to a 5.1% increase in remission rate. Conclusions In this largest study to date of GH-producing pituitary adenomas in which iMR imaging–guided transsphenoidal surgery was analyzed, the results suggest that this method is a highly effective and safe treatment modality, even compared with previously published surgical series in which high-field iMR imaging was used. Limitations of iMR imaging are the detection of small residual tumor in the cavernous sinus and persisting disease that could not be observed, even on diagnostic high-field follow-up MR images. This points to a general limitation regarding remission rates that can be achieved using iMR imaging. Nevertheless, iMR imaging led to an increase of the remission rate in this study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. E14
Author(s):  
Michal Hlaváč ◽  
Andreas Knoll ◽  
Benjamin Mayer ◽  
Michael Braun ◽  
Georg Karpel-Massler ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEMany innovations have been introduced into pituitary surgery in the quest to maximize the extent of tumor resection. Because of the deep and narrow surgical corridor as well as the heterogeneity of confronted pathologies, anatomical orientation and identification of the target tissue can become difficult. Intraoperative MRI (iMRI) may have the potential to increase extent of resection (EOR) in transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. Furthermore, it may simplify anatomical orientation and risk assessment in difficult cases. Here, the authors evaluated the additional value of iMRI for the resection of pituitary adenomas performed in the past 10 years in their department.METHODSThey performed a retrospective single-center analysis of patients treated for pituitary adenoma in their department after the introduction of iMRI between 2008 and 2018. Of 495 transsphenoidal approaches, 300 consecutive MRI-assisted surgeries for pituitary adenomas encompassing 294 patients were selected for further analysis. Microscopic, endoscopic, or endoscope-assisted microscopic transsphenoidal approaches were distinguished. EOR as well as additional resection following iMRI was evaluated via detailed volumetric analysis. Patients were stratified according to the Knosp adenoma classification. Furthermore, demographic data, clinical symptoms, endocrine outcome, and complications were evaluated. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses of progression-free survival (PFS) were performed.RESULTSPituitary adenomas classified as Knosp grades 0–2 were found in 60.3% of cases (n = 181). The most common tumors were nonfunctioning adenomas (75%). Continued resection following iMRI significantly increased EOR (7.5%, p < 0.001) and the proportion of gross-total resections (GTRs) in transsphenoidal pituitary surgery (54% vs 68.3%, p < 0.001). Additional resection after iMRI was performed in 37% of cases. Only in the subgroup of patients with Knosp grades 0–2 adenomas treated with the microsurgical technique was additional resection significantly more common than in the endoscopic group (p = 0.039). Residual tumor volume, Knosp grade, and age were confirmed as independent predictors of PFS (p < 0.001, p = 0.021, and p = 0.029, respectively) in a multivariable Cox regression analysis. Improvement of visual field deficits was documented in 78.6% of patients whose optic apparatus had been affected preoperatively. Revision surgery was done in 7.3% of cases; in 5.6% of cases, it was performed for cerebrospinal fluid fistula.CONCLUSIONSIn this series, iMRI led to the detection of a resectable tumor remnant in a high proportion of patients, resulting in a greater EOR and higher proportion of GTRs after continued resection in microsurgical and endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of pituitary adenomas. The volume of residual tumor was the most important predictor of PFS. Given the study data, the authors postulated that every bit of removed tumor serves the patient and increases their chances of a favorable outcome.


QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina M Gerges ◽  
Hatem Sabry ◽  
Hasan Jalalod din ◽  
Mohamed Ashraf Ghobashy ◽  
Theodore H Schwartz

Abstract Background Giant pituitary adenoma represents one of the challenging tumor for neurosurgeons. Many microsurgical approaches in the past were used for its management. Recently and with evolution of the endoscopic equipment and instruments, extended endoscopic transsphenoidal approach become one of the preferable approaches for its surgical excision. Methods We prospectively document the clinical , surgical and follow up data for all patients presented with giant pituitary adenoma to Ain-Shams university hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College, Presbyterian hospital and were surgically treated with extended transsphenoidal approach from 2015 till 2019. Results Our group study formed of 44 patients with mean age 53.03 (range 14.7-82.4) and a male predominance (59%). The main presentation was visual problems in 75% followed by partial hypopituitarism in 31.81% while headache was in 13.64%. Only 4 patients had functioning adenoma (3 prolactinoma and 1 acromegaly). Average tumor volume was 26.95 ± 17.25 cm3, while the mean maximum tumor diameter was 4.73 cm (range 4.0-8.0 cm). Radiographic invasion was found in 97.73% to suprasellar cistern, 61.36% to the cavernous sinus and in 34% to the sphenoid sinus. GTR was achieved in 45.45% with Knosp score is the only significant predictor factor for resection rate (p = 0.04). Visual improvement achieved in 75.76%. 50% (2 patient) of the patients with functioning adenoma were cured. Complications included CSF leak in 3 patients, permanent DI in 4 patients and postoperative hematoma in 2 patients. Recurrence and progression rates without upfront radiation therapy were 5.00 % and 31.81% respectively after mean follow up period 57.90 months. Conclusions Extended endoscopic approaches for achieving maximum resection with minimal morbidity for giant pituitary adenoma are very effective. Lateral tumor extension with cavernous sinus invasion represents the limiting point in achieving gross total resection. Upfront radiation therapy for patients with residual adenoma can be avoided but regular follow up should be warranted.


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