Practice patterns in the management of recurrent and residual non-functioning pituitary adenomas: Results from a Canada-wide survey

Different tumor growth pattern of clinically nonfunctioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumor according to sex and age: a longitudinal study

PURPOSE

Asymptomatic patients with clinically non-functional pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (CNF-PitNETs) are usually followed up. However, the natural course of CNF-PitNETs according to sex and age remains unclear. Therefore, this study assessed growth patterns of CNF-PitNETs according to sex and age.

METHODS

In this longitudinal study, we enrolled 431 consecutive patients with CNF-PitNETs who were treated at Seoul National University Hospital from 1997 to 2021. The patients underwent hormone function testing and visual field testing, and were subsequently followed up with imaging over a median duration of 66 months.

RESULTS

The median age of the patients was 53.0 years, and 37.1% (n = 160) were men. Men were older and harbored more macroadenomas than women. The annual tumor volume change was higher in men than in women (0.21 vs. 0.04 cm3/year, P < 0.001). The estimated cutoff value of age for significant tumor growth was 51 years. In men, the annual tumor volume change was similar across all age groups. In women, those aged ≤ 50 years showed significantly lower annual tumor volume change than those aged > 50 years (0.01, 0.11, and 0.17 cm3/year, P = 0.001). When comparing sexes within the same age group, the annual tumor volume changes was significantly lower for women than for men, only in patients aged ≤ 50 years (0.01 vs. 0.15 cm3/year, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with CNF-PitNET, tumor growth was slower in women aged ≤ 50 years than in men and women aged > 50. These findings may guide the customization of surveillance strategies for CNF-PitNETs according to sex and age.

Endocrinological aspects of pituitary adenoma surgery in Europe

Hormone-secreting adenomas are treated in many neurosurgical centers within Europe. The goal of the survey is to understand variance in practice management of pituitary tumors amongst neurosurgical centers. A list of departments performing pituitary surgery was created. The survey consisted of 58 questions. This study focuses on neurosurgical care of hormone-secreting adenomas. For analysis, the departments were divided into four subgroups: academic/non-academic, high-volume/low-volume, “mainly endoscopic/mainly microscopic practice” and geographical regions. Data from 254 departments from 34 countries were obtained. Most centers surgically treat 1–5 hormone-secreting adenomas per year. In prolactinomas this is the case in 194 centers, (76.4%), in GH-secreting adenomas: 133 centers, (52.4%), ACTH-secreting adenomas: 172 centers, (69.8%). Surgery as a primary treatment of prolactinomas is considered in 64 centers (25.2%). In 47 centers (18.8%), GH-secreting microadenomas are often treated pharmacologically first. Debulking surgery for an invasive GH-secreting adenoma in which hormonal remission is not a realistic goal of the surgery and the patient has no visual deficit surgery is always or mostly indicated in 156 centers (62.9%). Routine postoperative hydrocortisone replacement therapy is administered in 147 centers (58.6%). Our survey shows that in most centers, few hormone-secreting adenomas are treated per year. In about 25% of the centers, prolactinoma surgery may be regarded as first-line treatment; in about 20% of the centers, medical treatment is the first-line treatment for GH-secreting adenomas. Pretreatment for ACTH-secreting adenomas is routinely used in 21% of centers. This survey may serve as plea for neurosurgical care centralization of hormone-secreting adenomas.

What is the current clinical practice in pituitary adenoma surgery in Europe? European Pituitary Adenoma Surgery Survey (EU-PASS) results-technical part

Pituitary adenoma surgery has evolved rapidly in recent decades, changing clinical practice markedly and raising new challenges. There is no current consensus or guidelines for perioperative care that includes possible complication management. This study aims to determine current practice across European neurosurgical centres. We created a list of eligible departments performing pituitary adenoma surgery based on cooperation with EANS, national neurosurgical societies, and personal communication with local neurosurgeons. We contacted the chairpersons from each department and asked them (or another responsible neurosurgeon) to fill out the survey. The survey consisted of 58 questions. For further analysis, departments were divided into subgroups: "academic"/ "non-academic centre", "high-volume"/"low-volume", "mainly endoscopic"/ "mainly microscopic"/ "mixed practise", and by geographical regions. Data from 254 departments from 34 countries were obtained. The average time to complete the survey was 18 min. Notably, the endoscopic approach is the predominant surgical approach in Europe, used in 56.8% of the centres. In routine cases without intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak, high-volume centres are less pedantic with sellar closure when compared with low-volume centres (p < 0.001). On the other hand, when a postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak occurs, high-volume centres are more active and indicate early reoperation (p = 0.013). Less than 15% of the participating centres perform early postoperative MRI scans. Marked variation was noted among different groups of respondents and some contentious issues are discussed. Such information can encourage useful debate about the reasons for the variations seen and perhaps help develop standardised protocols to improve patient outcomes. A future research focus is to compare European results with other regions.

Primary Endoscopic Endonasal Management of Giant Pituitary Adenomas: Outcome and Pitfalls from a Large Prospective Multicenter Experience

Simple Summary

Giant pituitary adenomas are highly invasive tumors whose treatment is challenging. Surgery is their management mainstay. However, there is no consensus about the type of approach. Open transcranial, microscopic, and endoscopic trans-sphenoidal approaches have all been employed, alone or in combination. Extended endoscopic endonasal techniques may represent a versatile and safe one-stage approach. Our research aimed at evaluating prospectively their applicability, effectiveness, and safety in a multicenter series, to acquire further evidence toward its use in the treatment of those challenging lesions. Ninety-six patients were recruited and followed-up for 52.4 months on average. Most of them (81.2%) presented with visual deficits and >50% had various degrees of adenohypophysis insufficiency. Resection of at least 75% of initial volume was achieved in all cases, with 98.7% visual improvement, >50% endocrine deficit recovery and a permanent complication rate of 4.2%, indicating extended endoscopic endonasal approaches as a valuable treatment option.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate factors influencing clinical and radiological outcome of extended endoscopic endonasal transtuberculum/transplanum approach (EEA-TTP) for giant pituitary adenomas (GPAs). Methods: We recruited prospectively all consecutive GPAs patients undergoing EEA-TTP between 2015 and 2019 in 5 neurosurgical centers. Preoperative clinical and radiologic features, visual and hormonal outcomes, extent of resection (EoR), complications and recurrence rates were recorded and analyzed. Results: Of 1169 patients treated for pituitary adenoma, 96 (8.2%) had GPAs. Seventy-eight (81.2%) patients had visual impairment, 12 (12.5%) had headaches, 3 (3.1%) had drowsiness due to hydrocephalus, and 53 (55.2%) had anterior pituitary insufficiency. EoR was gross or near-total in 46 (47.9%) and subtotal in 50 (52.1%) patients. Incomplete resection was associated with lateral suprasellar, intraventricular and/or cavernous sinus extension and with firm/fibrous consistence. At the last follow-up, all but one patient (77, 98.7%) with visual deficits improved. Headache improved in 8 (88.9%) and anterior pituitary function recovered in 27 (50.9%) patients. Recurrence rate was 16.7%, with 32 months mean recurrence-free survival. Conclusions: EEA-TTP is a valid option for GPAs and seems to provide better outcomes, lower rate of complications and higher EoR compared to one- or multi-stage microscopic, non-extended endoscopic transsphenoidal, and transcranial resections.

Prediction of the Recurrence of Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenomas Using Preoperative Supra-Intra Sellar Volume and Tumor-Carotid Distance

BACKGROUND

Currently, it is difficult to estimate the possibility of recurrence of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs). Markers such as Ki-67 or transcription factors rely on postoperative pathology, while few indices can be used for preoperative prediction. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the predictive effectiveness of supra-intrasellar volume and tumor-carotid distance based on measurements derived from preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data.

METHOD

Ninety-eight cases of NFPAs were evaluated, along with their clinical characteristics and MRI features. Four radiologic indices were analyzed, including intrasellar tumor volume, suprasellar tumor volume, maximum horizontal tumor diameter, and intercarotid distance. The ratio of supra-intrasellar volume and ratio of tumor-carotid distance were measured using 3D Slicer software, and the sum of two ratios was defined as the V-D value. The correlation between recurrence and multiple factors was analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis, and ROC curves were used to estimate the prognostic performance of radiologic measurements in NFPAs.

RESULT

The supra-intrasellar volume ratio, tumor-carotid distance ratio and V-D value were significantly correlated with the recurrence of NFPAs. The predictive importance of the V-D value reached 84.5%, with a sensitivity of 83.7% and specificity of 67.3%. The cutoff limit of the V-D value was 1.53, and patients with V-D values higher than 1.53 tended to relapse much earlier.

CONCLUSION

The V-D value has predictive importance for the recurrence of NFPAs preoperatively. Patients with higher V-D values will undergo recurrence earlier and should be given greater consideration in terms of surgery and follow-up time.