The effect of somatostatin analogue on chiasmal dysfunction from pituitary macroadenomas

1989 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 687-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Warnet ◽  
José Timsit ◽  
Philippe Chanson ◽  
Pierre-Jean Guillausseau ◽  
Françoise Zamfirescu ◽  
...  

✓ The long-acting somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 has been shown to be efficient in the treatment of somatotropic and thyrotropic adenomas. In some cases, it can suppress adenoma secretion and lead to tumor shrinkage. Pituitary macroadenomas are often associated with a vision-threatening chiasmal syndrome. In this series, SMS 201-995 was administered subcutaneously to eight patients with pituitary macroadenomas of various types responsible for severe long-lasting visual defects. An obvious improvement of both visual fields and acuity occurred in six patients, in two of these during the first 4 to 6 hours of treatment; in two patients, gonadotropic adenomas were unresponsive. Maximal improvement (normalization of visual fields in three cases) occurred within 6 to 45 days and was sustained during the 1- to 12-month follow-up period. This effect seems independent of the type of adenoma since the adenomas secreting growth hormone (GH) and thyroidstimulating hormone and silent corticotropic-secreting adenomas responded as well as did two of the non-functioning adenomas. In one acromegalic patient visual improvement was obtained while the abnormal GH secretion remained unaltered. In all cases but one, no tumor shrinkage could be demonstrated. These data demonstrate that SMS 201-995 can rapidly improve the chiasmal syndrome due to pituitary macroadenoma, and suggest that this effect might be independent of a reduction in tumor volume.

1998 ◽  
Vol 88 (6) ◽  
pp. 969-974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara J. Fisher ◽  
Glenn S. Bauman ◽  
Christopher E. Leighton ◽  
Larry Stitt ◽  
J. Gregory Cairncross ◽  
...  

Object. The authors conducted a retrospective review to examine and document the frequency, degree, and timing of the radiologically confirmed response to radiotherapy of low-grade gliomas in children. Methods. Between 1963 and 1995, 80 patients 17 years of age or younger were referred to the London Regional Cancer Centre in London, Ontario after diagnosis of a low-grade glioma. All patients underwent surgical resection or biopsy procedures and 47 underwent radiotherapy (40 postoperatively and seven at the time of tumor progression). Nineteen patients with residual measurable lesions who received radiation therapy were selected for volumetric analysis of tumor response to this treatment. The extent and timing of response to radiation were determined by the process of comparing postoperative, preirradiation computerized tomography (CT) scans with postirradiation, follow-up CT scans. For one patient the comparison was made by using serial magnetic resonance images. Residual tumor was found on postoperative CT scans in all cases. The mean preradiotherapy tumor volume was 17.1 cm3, and the postradiotherapy volume was reduced to a mean of 11.5 cm3. A reduction in tumor volume was demonstrated in eight patients by the time of their first postirradiation follow-up CT scan and in two patients a slower reduction in volume over time was shown, bringing the total number of “responders” to 10. In five of these 10 patients the tumor had shown a maximum response by the time of the first postirradiation CT scan; the median time to response was 3.3 months. A 25% or greater reduction in tumor volume was seen in eight (42%) of the 19 patients. A 50% or greater reduction was noted in five (26%) of the patients. A complete response was demonstrated at 7, 12, and 15 months, and 5 years, respectively, in four patients (21%). One responder's tumor eventually increased in size after radiotherapy and he died of his disease. The magnitude of the radiographically demonstrated response to radiation did not correlate significantly with clinical outcome (that is, survival or symptom improvement). Conclusions. On the basis of this CT scan analysis of the response of low-grade gliomas in children to radiotherapy, the authors suggest that these lesions respond to radiation, as demonstrated by tumor shrinkage on serial imaging. Major or complete responses occur occasionally. However, low-grade gliomas in children mimic other benign brain tumors such as pituitary adenomas and meningiomas in that, although growth is frequently arrested after radiotherapy, residual tumor can persist for many years, illustrating that tumor shrinkage may not be a good measure of treatment efficacy. Nevertheless, radiation therapy can result in improvement of clinical symptomatology in association with or independent of visible tumor reduction. As radiation treatment techniques become increasingly conformal and because studies indicate that lower doses of radiation may be equally effective, improvement of symptoms may be an important consideration when weighing treatment options, particularly in patients with residual or unresectable disease.


1994 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomás Lucas-Morante ◽  
José García-Uría ◽  
Javier Estrada ◽  
Gertrudis Saucedo ◽  
Ana Cabello ◽  
...  

✓ The purpose of this study was to determine whether the long-acting somatostatin analog SMS 201–995 (octreotide) shrinks growth hormone (GH)-secreting adenomas and improves the results of subsequent transsphenoidal surgery. Ten previously untreated active acromegalic patients (nine women and one man) with invasive tumors were treated with SMS 201–995 (100 µg subcutaneously every 8 hours) for 6 weeks prior to transsphenoidal surgery. The clinical activity, mean GH secretion, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I concentration, and tumor volume were measured under basal conditions and on Days 14, 28, and 42 of treatment. The SMS 201–995 improved the symptoms of acromegaly in all patients. Mean levels of both GH and IGF-I (± standard deviation) were significantly decreased by Day 14 (from 92.9 ± 30.5 to 44.9 ± 20.3 µg/liter and from 10.6 ± 7.4 to 5.9 ± 2.6 U/ml, respectively), after which there were only slight further decreases. Six (60%) of the 10 patients experienced tumor shrinkage ranging from 9% to 78% (mean 30%). When it occurred, tumor shrinkage was significant by Day 14 (7.9 ± 6.3 to 6.5 ± 5.1 cu cm) and no further shrinkage was achieved by longer administration. Transsphenoidal surgery reduced postoperative GH levels to less than 2 µg/liter and IGF-I to less than 1.5 U/ml in six patients (60%). This percentage of cure is higher than expected from the literature and the authors' previous experience. However, an investigation of the influence of this drug on several parameters, such as reduction of tumor size or GH and IGF-I concentrations, has failed to prove any relationship. Only pretreatment size of the tumor was of predictive value with respect to the surgical outcome.


2007 ◽  
Vol 156 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
O M Dekkers ◽  
S Hammer ◽  
R J W de Keizer ◽  
F Roelfsema ◽  
P J Schutte ◽  
...  

Objective: The natural history of non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas (NFMA) has not been completely elucidated. Therefore, we evaluated pituitary function, visual fields, and tumor size during long-term follow-up of non-operated patients with NFMA. Design: Follow-up study. Patients: Twenty-eight patients (age 55 ± 3 years) with NFMA, not operated after initial diagnosis, were included. Results: Initial presentation was pituitary insufficiency in 44%, visual field defects in 14%, apoplexy in 14%, and chronic headache in 7% of the patients. The duration of follow-up was 85 ± 13 months. Radiological evidence of tumor growth was observed in 14 out of 28 patients (50%) after duration of follow-up of 118 ± 24 months. Six patients (21%) were operated, because tumor growth was accompanied by visual field defects. Visual impairments improved in all the cases after transsphenoidal surgery. Spontaneous reduction in tumor volume was observed in eight patients (29%). No independent predictors for increase or decrease in tumor volume could be found by regression analysis. Conclusion: Observation alone is a safe alternative for transsphenoidal surgery in selected NFMA patients, without the risk of irreversibly compromising visual function.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 87-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Yuh Chung ◽  
Kang-Du Liu ◽  
Cheng-Ying Shiau ◽  
Hsiu-Mei Wu ◽  
Ling-Wei Wang ◽  
...  

Object. The authors conducted a study to determine the optimal radiation dose for vestibular schwannoma (VS) and to examine the histopathology in cases of treatment failure for better understanding of the effects of irradiation. Methods. A retrospective study was performed of 195 patients with VS; there were 113 female and 82 male patients whose mean age was 51 years (range 11–82 years). Seventy-two patients (37%) had undergone partial or total excision of their tumor prior to gamma knife surgery (GKS). The mean tumor volume was 4.1 cm3 (range 0.04–23.1 cm3). Multiisocenter dose planning placed a prescription dose of 11 to 18.2 Gy on the 50 to 94% isodose located at the tumor margin. Clinical and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging follow-up evaluations were performed every 6 months. A loss of central enhancement was demonstrated on MR imaging in 69.5% of the patients. At the latest MR imaging assessment decreased or stable tumor volume was demonstrated in 93.6% of the patients. During a median follow-up period of 31 months resection was avoided in 96.8% of cases. Uncontrolled tumor swelling was noted in five patients at 3.5, 17, 24, 33, and 62 months after GKS, respectively. Twelve of 20 patients retained serviceable hearing. Two patients experienced a temporary facial palsy. Two patients developed a new trigeminal neuralgia. There was no treatment-related death. Histopathological examination of specimens in three cases (one at 62 months after GKS) revealed a long-lasting radiation effect on vessels inside the tumor. Conclusions. Radiosurgery had a long-term radiation effect on VSs for up to 5 years. A margin 12-Gy dose with homogeneous distribution is effective in preventing tumor progression, while posing no serious threat to normal cranial nerve function.


1990 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 594-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen C. Rush ◽  
Mark J. Kupersmith ◽  
Irving Lerch ◽  
Paul Cooper ◽  
Joseph Ransohoff ◽  
...  

✓ Between 1972 and 1988, 25 patients were treated by radiation therapy (RT) alone for pituitary macroadenomas causing visual impairment. Twenty-three patients were evaluated by a neuro-ophthalmologist before treatment and at the time of follow-up review. Radiation treatment consisted of 4000 to 5000 cGy over 4 to 5 weeks. The median follow-up period was 36 months (range 2 to 192 months). Eighteen patients (78%) experienced visual field improvement. Deterioration occurred in four patients due to tumor recurrence, tumor hemorrhage, possible optic nerve necrosis, and optic chiasm herniation. Visual field improvement occurred predominantly in patients whose pretreatment visual field defects were less than a dense hemianopsia, who did not have diffuse optic atrophy, and who were younger than the median age of 69 years (p < 0.001). Visual acuity improvement occurred in patients without diffuse optic atrophy, with only mild impairment of the visual acuity, and with only mild visual field loss prior to RT (p < 0.002). It is concluded that there is a subset of patients with pituitary macroadenomas and visual impairment for whom primary RT is a treatment option.


2004 ◽  
pp. 489-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
SW van Thiel ◽  
JA Romijn ◽  
NR Biermasz ◽  
BE Ballieux ◽  
M Frolich ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: Recently a new depot preparation of the long-acting somatostatin analogue, lanreotide Autogel was introduced for the treatment of acromegaly. Like octreotide long-acting repeatable (LAR), it has high binding affinity for the somatostatin receptor subtype SSTR 2 and less binding affinity for SSTR 5. We hypothesized that the ability to suppress growth hormone (GH) secretion in patients with acromegaly would be similar for these depot preparations. PATIENTS AND STUDY DESIGN: Seven patients (mean age+/-S.E.M. 48.4+/-7 years) on long-term octreotide LAR treatment at a monthly injection interval for a mean of 2.8 years were enrolled in the study. They underwent a GH secretory profile study with 10 min sampling for 24 h, 28 days after an injection. At 2, 4 and 6 weeks after the next injection fasting GH profiles (every 30 min for 3.5 h) and serum IGF-I measurements were measured. These investigations were repeated 12 months later, when the patients were on an individually titrated stable dose of lanreotide Autogel. RESULTS: Secretory characteristics and total 24 h GH secretion, estimated by deconvolution analysis of the 10 min 24 h plasma GH concentrations, did not show differences between these two long-acting somatostatin analogues. Both drugs were equally effective in GH and IGF-I suppression as measured at 2, 4 and also at 6 weeks following an injection. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of lanreotide Autogel and octreotide LAR was equal, notwithstanding that these drugs are administered in a different way and have different pharmacokinetics.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 ◽  
pp. 87-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Yuh Chung ◽  
Kang-Du Liu ◽  
Cheng-Ying Shiau ◽  
Hsiu-Mei Wu ◽  
Ling-Wei Wang ◽  
...  

Object.The authors conducted a study to determine the optimal radiation dose for vestibular schwannoma (VS) and to examine the histopathology in cases of treatment failure for better understanding of the effects of irradiation.Methods.A retrospective study was performed of 195 patients with VS; there were 113 female and 82 male patients whose mean age was 51 years (range 11–82 years). Seventy-two patients (37%) had undergone partial or total excision of their tumor prior to gamma knife surgery (GKS). The mean tumor volume was 4.1 cm3(range 0.04–23.1 cm3). Multiisocenter dose planning placed a prescription dose of 11 to 18.2 Gy on the 50 to 94% isodose located at the tumor margin. Clinical and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging follow-up evaluations were performed every 6 months.A loss of central enhancement was demonstrated on MR imaging in 69.5% of the patients. At the latest MR imaging assessment decreased or stable tumor volume was demonstrated in 93.6% of the patients. During a median follow-up period of 31 months resection was avoided in 96.8% of cases. Uncontrolled tumor swelling was noted in five patients at 3.5, 17, 24, 33, and 62 months after GKS, respectively. Twelve of 20 patients retained serviceable hearing. Two patients experienced a temporary facial palsy. Two patients developed a new trigeminal neuralgia. There was no treatment-related death. Histopathological examination of specimens in three cases (one at 62 months after GKS) revealed a long-lasting radiation effect on vessels inside the tumor.Conclusions.Radiosurgery had a long-term radiation effect on VSs for up to 5 years. A margin 12-Gy dose with homogeneous distribution is effective in preventing tumor progression, while posing no serious threat to normal cranial nerve function.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 ◽  
pp. 189-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guenther C. Feigl ◽  
Otto Bundschuh ◽  
Alireza Gharabaghi ◽  
Madjid Samii ◽  
Gerhard A. Horstmann

Object.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the volume-reducing effects of gamma knife surgery (GKS) of meningiomas with and without previous surgical treatment.Methods.A group of 127 patients with a mean age of 57.1 years (range 9–81 years) with 142 meningiomas (128 World Health Organization Grade I and 14 Grade II) were included in this study. The management strategy reduces tumor volume with surgery when necessary (81 patients). Stereotactic GKS with a Gamma Knife model C was performed in all tumors of suitable size. Magnetic resonance imaging follow-up examinations with volumetric tumor analysis was performed 6 months after treatment and annually thereafter.The mean tumor volume was 5.9 cm3(range < 5 to > 40 cm3). The mean follow-up time after GKS was 29.3 months (range 11–61 months). The mean prescription dose was 13.8 Gy (range 10–18 Gy). A reduction in volume occurred in 117 (82.4%) of all tumors, and in 20 tumors (14.1%) growth ceased. The overall tumor control rate of 96.4%. The mean volume reduction achieved with GKS was more than 46.1%. Only five tumors (3.5%) showed a volume increase.Conclusions.Gamma knife surgery was effective in reducing meningioma volume at short-term follow up. Further studies are needed to examine the development of these findings over a longer period.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 165-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guenther Christian Feigl ◽  
Otto Bundschuh ◽  
Alireza Gharabaghi ◽  
Sam Safavi-Abassi ◽  
Amr El Shawarby ◽  
...  

Object. Chordomas and chondrosarcomas of the skull base are rare locally invasive tumors associated with high recurrence rates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concept of microsurgical tumor volume reduction followed by early gamma knife surgery (GKS). Methods. Thirteen patients with 15 tumors were treated between October 2000 and June 2003. There were three patients (23.1%) with chordomas and 10 (76.9%) with chondrosarcomas. There were nine men and four women who ranged in age between 19 and 69 years. All patients first underwent maximal tumor resection. Within 2 to 10 months after surgery they were treated with GKS. The mean postoperative tumor volume treated with GKS was 9.7 cm3 (range 1.4–20.3 cm3). Follow-up computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging examinations with volumetric tumor analysis were performed every 6 months after GKS. The mean treatment dose was 17 Gy and the mean isodose was 52%. The mean follow-up duration was 17 months during which there was only one tumor recurrence at the margin of the radiation field. The mean volume reduction was 35.4%. Conclusions. Results of this treatment strategy are encouraging but the efficacy of this multimodal treatment combining surgery and early GKS requires a longer follow up.


1983 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Ciric ◽  
Michael Mikhael ◽  
Thomas Stafford ◽  
Lawrence Lawson ◽  
Rafael Garces

✓ The authors have reported on 108 patients with pituitary macroadenomas (measuring 2 cm in at least one diameter) who underwent 117 transsphenoidal operations and five craniotomies, and were followed for periods ranging from 6 months to 14 years. Vision improved in 90% of the patients. Gross total tumor removal with no evidence of residual tumor tissue demonstrable on the postoperative computerized tomography scan was accomplished in 41% of cases. However, gross total tumor removal is not synonymous with complete tumor removal. Endocrine cure was possible in 25% of prolactin-secreting and 20% of growth hormone-secreting adenomas. The incidence of recurrence was 12%, with the majority occurring from 4 to 8 years postoperatively. Both the tumors with suprasellar extension of more than 2 cm and the hard fibrotic tumors had a higher recurrence rate. Postoperative administration of radiation therapy has been associated with a significantly lower recurrence rate than when this therapy was withheld. Transsphenoidal surgery of pituitary macroadenomas confined to the extra-arachnoid space is associated with a relatively small number of complications. The operative technique used in this series is described.


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