The natural course of non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas

Excess mortality in patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) often present with a variety of clinical manifestations and comorbidities, mainly determined by the local mass effect of the tumor and by hypopituitarism. Whether this has an impact on overall mortality, however, is still unclear.

METHODS

PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched until May 2023 for studies reporting data either about standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) or about predictors of mortality in patients with NFPA. Effect sizes were pooled through a random-effect model. This systematic review and meta-analysis was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, #CRD42023417782).

RESULTS

Eleven studies were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review; among these, five studies reported data on SMRs, with a total follow-up time of approximately 130,000 person-years. Patients with NFPA showed an increased mortality risk compared to the general population (SMR = 1.57 [95%CI: 1.20-1.99], p < 0.01). Age and sex appeared to act as effect modifiers, with a trend towards higher SMRs in females (SMR = 1.57 [95%CI: 0.91-2.41], p = 0.10) than in males (SMR = 1.00 [95%CI: 0.89-1.11], p = 0.97), and in patients diagnosed at age 40 years or younger (SMR = 3.19 [95%CI: 2.50-3.97], p < 0.01) compared to those with later onset of the disease (SMR = 1.26 [95%CI: 0.93-1.65], p = 0.13). The trend towards excess mortality was similar in patients with normal (SMR = 1.22 [95%CI: 0.94-1.53], p = 0.13) or deficient (SMR = 1.26 [95%CI: 0.82-1.79], p = 0.27) pituitary function.

CONCLUSIONS

Excess mortality is observed in patients with NFPA, regardless of pituitary function, especially in women and in patients with a younger age at diagnosis.

High prevalence of morphometric vertebral fractures opportunistically detected on thoracic radiograms in patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma

PURPOSE

Vertebral fractures (VFs), the hallmark of skeletal fragility, have been reported as an emerging complication in patients with pituitary diseases associated with hormonal excess and/or deficiency, independently from bone mineral density. Non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) is amongst the most frequent pituitary adenomas; however, skeletal health in this context has never been investigated. We aimed at assessing the prevalence and the determinants of morphometric VFs in patients with NFPA.

METHODS

We enrolled 156 patients (79 M/77F, mean age 55.75 ± 12.94 years) at admission in Neurosurgery Unit before trans-sphenoidal surgery and compared them with an age and sex-matched control group of subjects with neither history/risk factors for secondary osteoporosis nor pituitary disorders. We performed a vertebral morphometric evaluation of the thoracic spine on pre-operative X-ray images (MTRx) and collected biochemical, demographic, and clinical data from the entire cohort.

RESULTS

The prevalence of thoracic VFs in patients with NFPA was significantly higher than the control group (26.3% vs. 10.3%; p < 0.001). In the NFPA group, 20 patients (48.8% of the fractured patients) showed multiple VFs, 14 (34.1% of them) showed moderate/severe VFs. Patients with VFs were significantly older and had lower serum free triiodothyronine (fT3) levels than non-fractured ones (p = 0.002 and p = 0.004; respectively). The prevalence of secondary male hypogonadism was higher among men with VFs as compared to those with no VFs (72% vs. 48.1%; p = 0.047). Consistently, total testosterone levels in males were significantly lower in fractured patients than in non-fractured ones (p = 0.02). The prevalence of gonadotroph adenomas was significantly higher among patients with VFs (p = 0.02). In multiple logistic regression analysis, older age and lower serum fT3 levels were independent factors predicting the risk for VFs.

CONCLUSIONS

For the first time, we reported a high prevalence of thoracic radiological VFs in patients with NFPAs. Our data should prompt clinicians to proceed with a clinical bone fragility evaluation already during the diagnostic work-up, particularly in those with concomitant hypogonadism, or in those with older age and/or with lower fT3.

Lanreotide versus placebo for tumour reduction in patients with a 68Ga-DOTATATE PET-positive, clinically non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma (GALANT study): a randomised, multicentre, phase 3 trial with blinded outcome assessment

Background

No established medical treatment options currently exist for patients with non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma (NFPMA). Somatostatin analogues may prevent tumour growth, but randomised controlled trials are lacking. In vivo somatostatin receptor assessment with 68Ga-DOTATATE PET could help in selecting patients for treatment. We aimed to determine the effect of the somatostatin analogue lanreotide on tumour size in patients with a 68Ga-DOTATATE PET-positive NFPMA.

Methods

The GALANT study was an investigator-initiated, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase 3 trial with recruitment at three academic hospitals in the Netherlands. Adult patients with a suprasellar extending NFPMA, either surgery-naïve or postoperative remnant ≥10 mm, were eligible for inclusion. Important exclusion criteria were previous sellar radiotherapy and use of dopamine receptor agonists. Somatostatin receptor expression in the NFPMA was determined through 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT, co-registered with MRI. A predefined sample of 44 patients with PET-positive NFPMA were randomly assigned (1:1) to lanreotide acetate 120 mg or placebo, both administered as deep subcutaneous injections every 28 days for 72 weeks. Primary outcome was the change in cranio-caudal tumour diameter measured on pituitary MRI from baseline to end-of-treatment in the intention-to-treat population. Participants, investigators and outcome assessors were masked to treatment allocation. The trial is registered with the Netherlands Trial Registry, NL5136, and EudraCT, 2015-001234-22.

Findings

Between Nov 3, 2015, and Dec 10, 2019, 49 patients were included in the study. Forty-four patients with a 68Ga-DOTATATE PET-positive NFPMA were randomly assigned to lanreotide (22 [50%]) or placebo (22 [50%]). Study treatment was completed in 13 (59%) lanreotide and 19 (86%) placebo participants. The mean (SD) change from baseline in cranio-caudal tumour diameter after treatment was +1·2 (2·5) mm with lanreotide and +1·3 (1·5) mm with placebo; adjusted mean difference versus placebo -0·1 mm (95% CI -1·3 to 1·2, p = 0·93). Adverse events occurred in 22 (100%, 147 events) lanreotide and 21 (95%, 94 events) placebo participants. Gastrointestinal complaints were most common, reported by 18 (82%) lanreotide and 8 (36%) placebo participants. There were no treatment-related serious adverse events.

Interpretation

Compared with placebo, lanreotide treatment did not reduce tumour size or growth in patients with 68Ga-DOTATATE PET-positive NFPMA.

Funding

Ipsen Farmaceutica BV.

Cabergoline treatment for surgery-naïve non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas

PURPOSE

The treatment strategy of non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) includes surgery, radiotherapy, medical therapy, or observation without intervention. Cabergoline, a dopaminergic agonist, was suggested for the treatment of NFPA remnants after trans-sphenoidal surgery. This study investigates the efficacy of cabergoline in surgery-naive patients with NFPA.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study including surgery-naive patients with NFPA ≥ 10 mm, treated with cabergoline at a dose of ≥ 1 mg/week for at least 24 months. Patients with chiasmal damage were excluded. Data collected included symptoms, in particular visual disturbances, hormonal levels, tumor characteristics and size evaluated by MRI. Tumor growth was defined as an increase in maximal diameter of ≥  2 mm, and shrinkage as reduction of ≥ 2 mm.

RESULTS

Our cohort included 25 patients treated with cabergoline as primary therapy. Mean age was 63.3 ± 17.3 years, 56% (14/25) were males. Mean tumor size at diagnosis was 18.6 ± 6.3 mm (median 17 mm, range 10-36), and the average follow-up period with cabergoline was 4.6 ± 3.4 years. Out of the 25 tumors, five tumors (20%) decreased in size (mean decrease of 5.0 ± 3.0 mm), 12 tumors (48%) remained stable, and eight (32%) increased in size (mean growth of 5.0 ± 3.3 mm) with cabergoline treatment. During the first two years of cabergoline treatment, the median tumor size exhibited a reduction of 0.5 mm. Patients with an increase in tumor size had larger adenomas at diagnosis and a longer follow-up. Two patients (8%) underwent surgery due to tumor enlargement.

CONCLUSION

Primary treatment with cabergoline is a reasonable approach for selected patients with NFPAs without visual threat.

Sleep and cognition in South African patients with non-functioning pituitary adenomas

Strong lines of evidence in the neuroscience literature indicate that (a) healthy sleep facilitates cognitive processing, and (b) sleep disruption is associated with cognitive dysfunction. Despite the fact that patients with pituitary disease often display both disrupted sleep and cognitive dysfunction, few previous studies investigate whether these clinical characteristics in these patients might be related. Hence, we explored whether sleep disruption in patients with pituitary disease mediates their cognitive dysfunction. We recruited 18 patients with non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) and 19 sociodemographically matched healthy controls. They completed the Global Sleep Assessment Questionnaire (thus providing self-report data regarding sleep disruption) and were administered the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone, which assesses cognitive functioning in the domains of processing speed, working memory, episodic memory, inhibition, and reasoning. We found no significant differences in cognition between patients and controls. Furthermore, spectra of sleep disturbance did not differ significantly between patients and controls. Our data suggest that NFPA patients' cognition and sleep quality is relatively intact, and that sleep disruption does not mediate cognitive dysfunction. Larger studies should characterize sleep and cognition in patients with NFPA (and other pituitary diseases) to confirm whether disruption of the former mediates impairment in the latter.

Update on Current Evidence for the Diagnosis and Management of Nonfunctioning Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors

Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) are the third most frequently diagnosed intracranial tumors, with nonfunctioning PitNETs (nfPitNETs) accounting for 30% of all pituitary tumors and representing the most common type of macroPitNETs. NfPitNETs are usually benign tumors with no evidence of hormone oversecretion except for hyperprolactinemia secondary to pituitary stalk compression. Due to this, they do not typically present with clinical syndromes like acromegaly, Cushing's disease or hyperthyroidism and instead are identified incidentally on imaging or from symptoms of mass effects (headache, vision changes, apoplexy). With the lack of effective medical interventions, first-line treatment is transsphenoidal surgical resection, however, nfPitNETs often have supra- or parasellar extension, and total resection of the tumor is often not possible, resulting in residual tumor regrowth or reoccurrence. While functional PitNETs can be easily followed for recurrence using hormonal biomarkers, there is no similar parameter to predict recurrence in nfPitNETs, hence delaying early recognition and timely management. Therefore, there is a need to identify prognostic biomarkers that can be used for patient surveillance and as therapeutic targets. This review focuses on summarizing the current evidence on nfPitNETs, with a special focus on potential new biomarkers and therapeutics.

Natural History of Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The management of non-functioning pituitary tumors (NFPTs) relies on the risk of tumor growth and new endocrinopathies. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the risk of growth, new pituitary endocrinopathies, and surgery in patients with conservatively treated NFPTs. We conducted a bibliographical search identifying studies assessing NFPTs followed conservatively. Estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis reporting events per 100 person years (PYs), in case of high heterogeneity (I2>75%) only the range of observed effects was reported. We identified 30 cohort studies including 1957 patients with a mean follow-up time of 4.0 (SD 1.5) years. The overall risk of tumor growth ranged from 0.0 to 14.2/100 PYs (I2=90%), while the overall risk of new endocrinopathies was 0.9/100 PYs (95% CI. 0.5 to 1.2; I2=: 35%) and risk of surgery ranged from 0.0 to 7.7/100 PYs (I2=: 80%). Compared to microadenomas, macroadenomas had higher risk of growth (p=: 0.002), higher risk of surgery (p=: 0.006), and non-significant differences in risk of new endocrinopathies (p=: 0.15). An analysis of microadenomas found the risk of growth to be 1.8/100 PYs (95% CI. 0.9 to 2.8; I2=: 58%), the risk of new endocrinopathies 0.7/100 PYs (95% CI. 0.0 to 1.6; I2=: 37%) and the risk of surgery 0.5/100 PYs (0.1 to 0.9; I2=: 37%). These data support individualized follow-up strategies of patients with NFPTs and particularly a less rigorous follow-up of patients with microadenomas.

Isolated Sixth Cranial Nerve Palsy as Initial Presentation of Pituitary Apoplexy: A Case Report

Pituitary apoplexy is a serious condition, which if left untreated, might lead to irreversible life-long complications. Hence, pituitary apoplexy should always be included in the differential diagnoses of a patient with an isolated sixth cranial nerve (CN) palsy. This report highlights the case of a patient presenting with isolated CN palsy associated with pituitary apoplexy. Although pituitary adenomas are common, they seldom present with isolated abducent nerve palsy without any other CN involvement. The 47-year-old female patient presented with acute right eye pain, diplopia, and a squint. Examination revealed an isolated unilateral sixth CN palsy. Brain MRI showed a sellar and suprasellar mass suggestive of hemorrhagic pituitary apoplexy. The patient was transferred to neurosurgery and underwent transsphenoidal resection of a pituitary macroadenoma. Postoperative follow-up showed clinical improvement. It is, thus, imperative for physicians to have the knowledge to recognize an isolated sixth cranial nerve palsy and its associated causes.

Natural history of nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas followed without intervention: A retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The treatment strategy for nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) includes surgery, radiotherapy, medical treatment, or follow-up. Prior series of patients with NFPAs followed without intervention include small numbers of patients with macroadenomas. This study investigated the natural history of patients with macroadenomas followed without treatment.

DESIGN AND PATIENTS

Retrospective cohort study included patients>18 years, with a diagnosis of NFPA ≥ 10 mm who were naïve to surgery or medical treatment and followed more than 12 months after diagnosis. Patients with chiasmal threat were excluded. Follow-up terminated if the patient underwent surgery, received cabergoline or was lost to follow-up.

MEASUREMENTS

Data collected included evaluation of tumour characteristics and size by MRI, symptoms including visual disturbances, and hormonal levels. Tumour growth was defined as maximal diameter increase of ≥2 mm.

RESULTS

The cohort included 49 patients (30 males, mean age 68.0 ± 12.0 years). At diagnosis, the average tumour size was 17.8 ± 5.9 mm. Mean follow-up time was 4.9 ± 4.9 years. Increase in tumour size occurred in 16 patients (33%), with an average growth of 5.1 ± 4.4 mm. Reduction in tumour size occurred in 10 patients (20%), with a mean decrease of 3.5 ± 1.3 mm. Twenty-three patients remained with stable tumours. Overall, 33 patients (67%) were observed without any intervention; 3 patients were operated and 13 were treated with cabergoline. None of the parameters including age, gender, baseline tumour size, invasiveness, visual disturbances, or hypopituitarism at diagnosis, predicted tumour growth.

CONCLUSION

Observation of NFPAs without surgery or medical therapy is a reasonable approach in selected patients. In our study, no parameter predicted tumour growth.

Isolated anterior pituitary dysfunction in adulthood

Hypopituitarism is defined as a complete or partial deficiency in one or more pituitary hormones. Anterior hypopituitarism includes secondary adrenal insufficiency, central hypothyroidism, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, growth hormone deficiency and prolactin deficiency. Patients with hypopituitarism suffer from an increased disability and sick days, resulting in lower health status, higher cost of care and an increased mortality. In particular during adulthood, isolated pituitary deficits are not an uncommon finding; their clinical picture is represented by vague symptoms and unclear signs, which can be difficult to properly diagnose. This often becomes a challenge for the physician. Aim of this narrative review is to analyse, for each anterior pituitary deficit, the main related etiologies, the characteristic signs and symptoms, how to properly diagnose them (suggesting an easy and reproducible step-based approach), and eventually the treatment. In adulthood, the vast majority of isolated pituitary deficits are due to pituitary tumours, head trauma, pituitary surgery and brain radiotherapy. Immune-related dysfunctions represent a growing cause of isolated pituitary deficiencies, above all secondary to use of oncological drugs such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. The diagnosis of isolated pituitary deficiencies should be based on baseline hormonal assessments and/or dynamic tests. Establishing a proper diagnosis can be quite challenging: in fact, even if the diagnostic methods are becoming increasingly refined, a considerable proportion of isolated pituitary deficits still remains without a certain cause. While isolated ACTH and TSH deficiencies always require a prompt replacement treatment, gonadal replacement therapy requires a benefit-risk evaluation based on the presence of comorbidities, age and gender of the patient; finally, the need of growth hormone replacement therapies is still a matter of debate. On the other side, prolactin replacement therapy is still not available. In conclusion, our purpose is to offer a broad evaluation from causes to therapies of isolated anterior pituitary deficits in adulthood. This review will also include the evaluation of uncommon symptoms and main etiologies, the elements of suspicion of a genetic cause and protocols for diagnosis, follow-up and treatment.

Risk Factors, Radiological and Clinical Outcomes in Subclinical and Clinical Pituitary Apoplexy

BACKGROUND

Pituitary apoplexy (PA) can be symptomatic, namely acute apoplexy (APA), or asymptomatic or subclinical (SPA).

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical characteristics and evolution of the patients with APA compared to SPA Patients and methods: Retrospective, longitudinal database analysis.

RESULTS

We identified 58 patients with PA, and 37 accomplished the inclusion criteria (17 men, median age 47.7 years). A total of 29 (78.4%) had APA (17 underwent surgery, and 12 were conservatively managed), and 8 (21.6%) had SPA. The presence of non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) odds ratio (OR): 29.36 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.86-462.36) and the largest size OR 1.10 (95% CI: 1.01-1.2) elevated the risk of having surgery. Hypopituitarism developed in 35.1% without significant differences between APA and SPA. In non-surgical patients, adenoma volume shrunk spontaneously at one year magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), without statistical differences between the conservatively treated and SPA group.

CONCLUSIONS

APA is more frequent in larger NFPAs, and this subset of patients has a higher risk of surgery. Hypopituitarism is quite frequent even in patients with SPA, and, therefore, long-term follow-up is mandatory. In the non-surgical group, the pituitary tumour shrinkage is clinically relevant after one year of PA. Consequently, surgery indication in NFPA should be delayed and reassessed if patients remain asymptomatic.

Surgery as a first-line option for prolactinomas

INTRODUCTION

Treatment of prolactinomas with dopamine agonists has been the established first-line treatment option for many years, with surgery reserved for refractory cases or medication intolerance. This approach may not be the best option in many cases.

AREAS COVERED

Review of the epidemiology, biology, and treatment options available for prolactinomas, including best available data on outcomes, costs, and morbidities for each therapy. These data are then used to propose a 'surgery-first' treatment approach for a subset of prolactinomas as an alternative to primary medical management.

EXPERT OPINION

Based on the available data, there is a strong rationale that transsphenoidal surgery should be considered a first-line treatment option for both micro- and macro-prolactinomas that do not demonstrate high grade cavernous sinus invasion on MRI imaging, with dopamine agonists administered as a secondary therapy for tumors not in remission following surgery, and for giant tumors. This 'surgery-first' approach assumes the availability of skilled and experienced pituitary surgeons to ensure optimal outcomes. This approach should result in high cure rates and reduced DA requirements for patients not cured from initial surgery. Further, it will reduce medical costs over a patient's lifetime and the chronic morbidities associated with protracted dopamine agonist usage.

Pituitary Apoplexy: Risk Factors and Underlying Molecular Mechanisms

Pituitary apoplexy is a rare syndrome, graded from asymptomatic subclinical apoplexy to a life-threatening condition due to pituitary ischemia or haemorrhage of an enlarged pituitary gland. The risk factors and the molecular underlying mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. We provide an overview of the general concepts, the potential factors associated with pituitary adenoma susceptibility for apoplectic events and the molecular mechanisms that could be involved such as HIF-1α/VEGF pathways and metalloproteinases activation, among others. The knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that could participate in the pathogenesis of pituitary apoplexy is crucial to advancement in the identification of future diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets in this rare but sometimes fatal condition.

Neurological Presentation of Giant Pituitary Tumour Apoplexy: Case Report and Literature Review of a Rare but Life-Threatening Condition

Background: Giant pituitary adenomas are benign intracranial tumours with a diameter ≥4 cm. Even if hormonally non-functional, they may still cause local extension, leading to symptoms that include mostly gland dysfunction, mass effects, and, much less frequently, apoplexy due to haemorrhage or infarction. Neurological presentation of giant pituitary tumour apoplexy is even more rare and has not been systematically reviewed. Case Presentation: An 81-year-old woman was admitted to the Emergency Department because of acute onset headache, bilateral visual deficit, and altered consciousness. Computed tomography showed a giant mass lesion (>5.5 cm diameter) expanding upward to the suprasellar cistern, optic chiasm, and third ventricle, over-running the sphenoid sinus, and with lateral invasion of the cavernous sinus. Laboratory investigations revealed central adrenal and hypothyroidism insufficiency, while magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a voluminous suprasellar tumour (~6 cm diameter), with signs of pituitary tumour apoplexy. Neurological manifestations and gland-related deficits improved after hormonal replacement therapy with a high dose of intravenous hydrocortisone, followed by oral hydrocortisone and levo-thyroxine. The patient declined surgical treatment and follow-up visit. Conclusions: Giant pituitary tumour apoplexy is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. Prompt diagnosis and multidisciplinary management may allow a remarkable clinical improvement, as seen in this case.

Speed of response to dopaminergic agents in prolactinomas

PURPOSE

Hyperprolactinemia in the presence of a sellar lesion can be caused by prolactin secretion from the lesion, or by increased intrasellar pressure/compression of the pituitary stalk ("stalk effect"). The objective of this work was to determine the response to dopamine agonists (DAs) in bona fide prolactinomas presenting with a prolactin range similar to what can be seen in nonhormonal secreting pituitary tumors.

METHODS

A descriptive study on 68 prolactinomas presenting with prolactin levels between 50 and 200 ng/mL in a tertiary center in the U.S.A. over 22 years. The main outcome was prolactin decrease from diagnosis to follow-up by 2 months from initiation of DA therapy.

RESULTS

With a median time to follow-up from starting DA therapy of 5 weeks [IQR:4, 6], the median prolactin check showed normality at 11.85 ng/mL [IQR: 5.1, 29]. The median prolactin percent change was at 87% [IQR:67, 94] by 2 months. The majority (75%) of patients presenting had a 2/3 (67%) prolactin drop by 2 months, with more than 1/4 (25%) having a percent drop >95%.

CONCLUSIONS

A rapid decline in prolactin level can be seen in prolactinomas upon initiation of DA therapy. This significant prolactin drop restricts the ability to establish a threshold beyond which the diagnosis of prolactinoma could be excluded.

Nonfunctioning Pituitary Microadenomas: Should Imaging Interval be Extended? A Large Single-center Cohort Study

CONTEXT

Characterization of the clinical features and natural history of nonfunctioning pituitary microadenomas (NFPmAs) is limited by heterogeneous and small-scale studies.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the clinical presentation and natural history of NFPmAs and evaluate if imaging follow-up interval can be extended.

METHODS

Retrospective single-center cohort study (years 2006-2021) of conservatively managed patients with NFPmAs. Initial symptoms, pituitary function, and tumor size were assessed. A change in NFPmA size ≥2 mm, as determined by pituitary or brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), was considered significant.

RESULTS

There were 347 patients in the study cohort. Headache (78.4%) and fatigue (70.0%) were commonly reported despite no evidence of mass effect or significant pituitary hypofunction. Pituitary deficiencies at baseline were rare, with hypogonadism being most common (5.1%). During a median imaging follow-up period of 29 months (range 3-154), 8.1% of NFPmAs grew. Growth incidence was 2.1 per 100 person-years with a mean and median time to growth of 38.1 (SD ± 36.4) and 24.5 (interquartile range 12.0-70.8) months, respectively. Tumor growth was mild and not associated with new pituitary deficiencies or visual deficits.

CONCLUSION

These data indicate that the natural history of NFPmAs is overall benign. Consequently, we propose that the initial MRI follow-up timeline for NFPmAs can be extended up to 3 years unless a lesion is close to the optic chiasm, there are worrisome mass effect symptoms, or new pituitary deficiencies.

The natural history of non-functioning pituitary adenomas: A meta-analysis of conservatively managed tumors

BACKGROUND

Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) are often discovered incidentally. The natural history of NFPA is not well understood, obfuscating evidence-based management decisions. Meta-data of radiographically followed NFPA may help guide conservative versus operative treatment of these tumors.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Ovid for studies with NFPA managed nonoperatively with radiographic follow-up. Studies on postoperative outcomes after NFPA resection and studies that did not delineate NFPA data from functional pituitary lesions were excluded. NFPA were divided into micro- and macroadenomas based on size at presentation. We performed a meta-analysis of aggregate data for length of follow-up, change in tumor size, rate of apoplexy, and need for resection during follow-up.

RESULTS

Our database search yielded 1787 articles, of which 19 were included for final analysis. The studies included 1057 patients with NFPA followed radiographically. Macroadenomas were significantly more likely to undergo growth (34% vs. 12%; p < 0.01) or apoplexy (5% vs. < 1%; p = 0.01) compared to microadenomas. Resection was performed in 11% of all NFPA patients during follow-up regardless of size at presentation. Meta-regression showed that surgery during follow-up was associated with macroadenomas and negatively associated with microadenomas that decreased in size.

CONCLUSION

Low-quality evidence suggests that NFPA classified as macroadenomas have an increased rate of growth and apoplexy during follow-up compared to microadenomas. A significant minority of all NFPA patients ultimately underwent surgery. In select patients, nonoperative management may be the appropriate strategy for NFPA. Macroadenomas may require closer follow-up.

Current Advances and Challenges in Radiomics of Brain Tumors

Imaging diagnosis is crucial for early detection and monitoring of brain tumors. Radiomics enable the extraction of a large mass of quantitative features from complex clinical imaging arrays, and then transform them into high-dimensional data which can subsequently be mined to find their relevance with the tumor's histological features, which reflect underlying genetic mutations and malignancy, along with grade, progression, therapeutic effect, or even overall survival (OS). Compared to traditional brain imaging, radiomics provides quantitative information linked to meaningful biologic characteristics and application of deep learning which sheds light on the full automation of imaging diagnosis. Recent studies have shown that radiomics' application is broad in identifying primary tumor, differential diagnosis, grading, evaluation of mutation status and aggression, prediction of treatment response and recurrence in pituitary tumors, gliomas, and brain metastases. In this descriptive review, besides establishing a general understanding among protocols, results, and clinical significance of these studies, we further discuss the current limitations along with future development of radiomics.

Solid tumor size for prediction of recurrence in large and giant non-functioning pituitary adenomas

A subset of large non-functioning pituitary adenomas (lNFPA) and giant non-functioning pituitary adenomas (gNFPA) undergoes early progression/recurrence (P/R) after surgery. This study revealed the clinical and image predictors of P/R in lNFPA and gNFPA, with emphasis on solid tumor size. This retrospective study investigated the preoperative MR imaging features for the prediction of P/R in lNFPA (> 3 cm) and gNFPA (> 4 cm). Only the patients with a complete preoperative brain MRI and undergone postoperative MRI follow-ups for more than 1 year were included. From November 2010 to December 2020, a total of 34 patients diagnosed with lNFPA and gNFPA were included (median follow-up time 47.6 months) in this study. A total of twenty-three (23/34, 67.6%) patients had P/R, and the median time to P/R is 25.2 months. Solid tumor diameter (STD), solid tumor volume (STV), and extent of resection are associated with P/R (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed large STV is a risk factor for P/R (p < 0.05) with a hazard ratio of 30.79. The cutoff points of STD and STV for prediction of P/R are 26 mm and 7.6 cm³, with AUCs of 0.78 and 0.79 respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis of tumor P/R trends showed that patients with larger STD and STV exhibited shorter progression-free survival (p < 0.05). For lNFPA and gNFPA, preoperative STD and STV are significant predictors of P/R. The results offer objective and valuable information for treatment planning in this subgroup.

Role of pituitary stalk and gland radiological status on endocrine function and outcome after endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for non-functioning pituitary adenomas

PURPOSE

To investigate endocrine function changes after non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) transsphenoidal surgery and to search for predictors of hypopituitarism resolution and development.

METHODS

We included 117 patients with NFPA who underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery from 2005 to 2019 by two neurosurgeons. Twenty-one patients were excluded because of previous pituitary surgery or radiotherapy. We assessed symptoms at diagnosis, tumour volume, tumour removal, hormonal status at diagnosis, hormonal outcomes at 2- and 12-month follow-up, and complications. Pituitary stalk and gland MRI status (visible or not) were included, and it theirs association to hormonal function was studied for the first time, to our knowledge.

RESULTS

Pituitary gland visualization was more frequent in those patients who showed a smaller number of axes affected at 12 months (p = 0.011). Pituitary stalk status showed no association to hormonal function. The hormonal normalization rate at 12 months was 13%. The endocrine improvement rate at 12 months was 16.7%. Worsening of hormonal function occurred in 19.8% of patients. Younger age was associated to hormonal improvement (p = 0.004). Higher preoperative tumour volume (p = 0.015) and absence of gross total resection (GTR) (p = 0.049) were associated with worsening in at least one hormonal axis after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Pituitary gland visibility was higher in those patients who showed better hormonal outcomes. Assessment of initial hormonal function and outcome after surgery regarding pituitary stalk status showed no significant association. Higher preoperative tumour volumes and absence of GTR were associated to postoperative endocrine function worsening, while younger age was associated to its improvement.

The outcomes of conservatively observed asymptomatic nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas with optic nerve compression

OBJECTIVE

The authors investigated the natural history of asymptomatic nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) with optic nerve compression.

METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed the natural history of asymptomatic NFPAs with documented optic nerve compression on MRI diagnosed between 2000 and 2016 from 2 institutions. The patients were followed up with regular endocrinological, ophthalmological, and radiological evaluations, and the endpoint was new endocrinopathy or neurological deficits.

RESULTS

The study comprised 81 patients. The median age at diagnosis was 58.0 years and the follow-up duration was 60.0 months. As the denominator of overall pituitary patients, 2604 patients were treated with surgery after diagnosis at the 2 institutions during the same period. The mean initial and last measured values for tumor diameter were 23.7 ± 8.9 mm and 26.2 ± 11.4 mm, respectively (mean ± SD). Tumor growth was observed in 51 (63.0%) patients; however, visual deterioration was observed in 14 (17.3%) patients. Ten (12.3%) patients experienced endocrine deterioration. Fourteen (17.3%) patients underwent surgery for either visual deterioration (in 12 patients) or endocrine dysfunction (in 2 patients). After surgery, all patients experienced improvements in visual or hormonal function. The actuarial rates of treatment-free survival at 2, 3, and 5 years were 96.1%, 93.2%, and 85.6%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, initial cavernous sinus invasion (HR 4.985, 95% CI 1.597-15.56; p = 0.006) was the only independent risk factor for eventual treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The neuroendocrinological deteriorations were not frequent and could be recovered by surgery with early detection on regular follow-up in asymptomatic NFPAs with documented optic nerve compression on MRI. Therefore, conservative management could be an acceptable strategy for these tumors. Careful follow-up is required for tumors with cavernous sinus invasion.

Alterations in CD8+ Tregs, CD56+ Natural Killer Cells and IL-10 Are Associated With Invasiveness of Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas (NFPAs)

Invasive nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) grow rapidly and the mechanisms are unclear. Among many complex mechanisms, the role of immunity in the development of NFPAs has not been fully explored. Here, we analyzed the clinical features 146 NFPA patients who underwent trans-sphenoidal surgery or craniotomy and examined the effects of immune tolerance in invasiveness of NFPA patients using fluorescence-activated cell sorting and immunohistochemical methods. We found patients with invasive NFPAs had more visual deficits and defective fields, higher tumor size, and lower white blood cell count compared with patients with noninvasive NFPAs. Additionally, compared with patients with noninvasive NFPAs, patients with invasive NFPAs had conspicuously lower CD3^-CD56⁺ natural killer (NK) cells and significantly higher levels of CD3⁺CD8⁺CD28-T cells (CD8⁺ Tregs) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in peripheral blood. Moreover, patients with invasive NFPAs had lower infiltrated CD56⁺ cells, less infiltrated CD28⁺ cells, and significantly greater IL-10 expression. These results demonstrated that low CD56⁺ cells infiltration and CD28⁺ cells infiltration, as well as high IL-10 expression in pituitary tumor tissues, were related with increased invasiveness of NFPAs. Levels of CD3^-CD56⁺ NK cells, CD8⁺ Tregs and IL-10 in the peripheral blood could be feasible diagnostic markers for invasive NFPAs.

Comparative preoperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes at a private versus a safety-net hospital following endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal resection of pituitary adenomas

OBJECTIVE

Sociodemographic disparities in health outcomes are well documented, but the effects of such disparities on preoperative presentation of pituitary adenomas (PA) and surgical outcomes following resection are not completely understood. In this study the authors sought to compare the preoperative clinical characteristics and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing PA resection at a private hospital (PH) versus a safety-net hospital (SNH).

METHODS

The authors conducted a retrospective review over a 36-month period of patients with PAs who underwent endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery performed by the same attending neurosurgeon at either a PH or an SNH at a single academic medical institution.

RESULTS

A total of 92 PH patients and 69 SNH patients were included. SNH patients were more likely to be uninsured or have Medicaid (88.4% vs 10.9%, p < 0.0001). A larger percentage of SNH patients were Hispanic (98.7% vs 32.6% p < 0.0001), while PH patients were more likely to be non-Hispanic white (39.1% vs 4.3%, p < 0.0001). SNH patients had a larger mean PA diameter (26.2 vs 22.4 mm, p = 0.0347) and a higher rate of bilateral cavernous sinus invasion (13% vs 4.3%, p = 0.0451). SNH patients were more likely to present with headache (68.1% vs 45.7%, p = 0.0048), vision loss (63.8% vs 35.9%, p < 0.0005), panhypopituitarism (18.8% vs 4.3%, p = 0.0031), and pituitary apoplexy (18.8% vs 7.6%, p = 0.0334). Compared to PH patients, SNH patients were as likely to undergo gross-total resection (73.9% vs 76.1%, p = 0.7499) and had similar rates of postoperative improvement in headache (80% vs 89%, p = 0.14) and vision (82% vs 84%, p = 0.74), but had higher rates of postoperative panhypopituitarism (23% vs 10%, p = 0.04) driven by preoperative endocrinopathies. Although there were no differences in tumor recurrence or progression, loss to follow-up was seen in 7.6% of PH versus 18.6% (p = 0.04) of SNH patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients presenting to the SNH were more often uninsured or on Medicaid and presented with larger, more advanced pituitary tumors. SNH patients were more likely to present with headaches, vision loss, and apoplexy, likely translating to greater improvements in headache and vision observed after surgery. These findings highlight the association between medically underserved populations and more advanced disease states at presentation, and underscore the likely role of academic tertiary multidisciplinary care teams and endoscopic PA resection in somewhat mitigating sociodemographic factors known to portend poorer outcomes, though longer-term follow-up is needed to confirm these findings.

Treatment of Aggressive Pituitary Adenomas: A Case-Based Narrative Review

Management of aggressive pituitary adenomas is challenging due to a paucity of rigorous evidence supporting available treatment approaches. Recent guidelines emphasize the need to maximize standard therapies as well as the use of temozolomide and radiation therapy to treat disease recurrence. However, often these adenomas continue to progress over time, necessitating the use of additional targeted therapies which also impact quality of life and long-term outcomes. In this review, we present 9 cases of aggressive pituitary adenomas to illustrate the importance of a multidisciplinary, individualized approach. The timing and rationale for surgery, radiation therapy, temozolomide, somatostatin receptor ligands, and EGFR, VEGF, and mTOR inhibitors in each case are discussed within the context of evidence-based guidelines and clarify strategies for implementing an individualized approach in the management of these difficult-to-treat-adenomas.

Radiomics Approach for Prediction of Recurrence in Non-Functioning Pituitary Macroadenomas

Objectives

A subset of non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas (NFPAs) may exhibit early progression/recurrence (P/R) after surgical resection. The purpose of this study was to apply radiomics in predicting P/R in NFPAs.

Methods

Only patients who had undergone preoperative MRI and postoperative MRI follow-ups for more than 1 year were included in this study. From September 2010 to December 2017, 50 eligible patients diagnosed with pathologically confirmed NFPAs were identified. Preoperative coronal T2WI and contrast-enhanced (CE) T1WI imaging were analyzed by computer algorithms. For each imaging sequence, 32 first-order features and 75 texture features were extracted. Support vector machine (SVM) classifier was utilized to evaluate the importance of extracted parameters, and the most significant three parameters were used to build the prediction model. The SVM score was calculated based on the three selected features.

Results

Twenty-eight patients exhibited P/R (28/50, 56%) after surgery. The median follow-up time was 38 months, and the median time to P/R was 20 months. Visual disturbance, hypopituitarism, extrasellar extension, compression of the third ventricle, large tumor height and volume, failed optic chiasmatic decompression, and high SVM score were more frequently encountered in the P/R group (p < 0.05). In multivariate Cox hazards analysis, symptoms of sex hormones, hypopituitarism, and SVM score were high risk factors for P/R (p < 0.05) with hazard ratios of 10.71, 2.68, and 6.88. The three selected radiomics features were T1 surface-to-volume radio, T1 GLCM-informational measure of correlation, and T2 NGTDM-coarseness. The radiomics predictive model shows 25 true positive, 16 true negative, 6 false positive, and 3 false negative cases, with an accuracy of 82% and AUC of 0.78 in differentiating P/R from non-P/R NFPAs. For SVM score, optimal cut-off value of 0.537 and AUC of 0.87 were obtained for differentiation of P/R. Higher SVM scores were associated with shorter progression-free survival (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our preliminary results showed that objective and quantitative MR radiomic features can be extracted from NFPAs. Pending more studies and evidence to support the findings, radiomics analysis of preoperative MRI may have the potential to offer valuable information in treatment planning for NFPAs.

Secondary pituitary hormonal dysfunction patterns: tumor size and subtype matter

PURPOSE

Patients with sellar masses (SM) frequently have secondary hormonal deficiency (SHD) at initial presentation. While larger SM are more likely to present with SHD, it is unclear whether SHD at presentation is influenced by the type of SM.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with SM prospectively enrolled in our comprehensive provincial neuropituitary registry between November 2005 and December 2018. SM were subdivided based on size: < 1 cm, 1-1.9 cm, 2-2.9 cm, and > 3 cm.

RESULTS

A total of 914 patients met the inclusion criteria, including: 346 nonfunctioning adenomas (NFA), 261 prolactinomas (PRLoma), 51 growth hormone adenomas, 36 adrenocorticotropic adenomas, 93 Rathke's cleft cysts, 70 craniopharyngiomas and 57 meningiomas. The overall rate of SHD at presentation was highest in PRLoma (62.8%) and craniopharyngiomas (64.3%) and lowest in meningiomas (14%). While larger SM were significantly more likely to have SHD, the rate of SHD within each group was significantly different despite similar size (p < 0.001). Of the two largest groups of SM (NFA and PRLoma), NFA had significantly higher odds ratio (3.34, CI 1.89-5.89) of having multiple SHDs when compare with PRLoma, even when corrected for age, gender and size of tumor (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that the rate and distribution of SHD in SM vary dependent upon the size of the tumor and specific pathology; in particular, NFA are more likely to present with multiple SHDs. Our data will help clinicians in determining adequate hormonal testing strategy for different SM.

Visual acuity and its postoperative outcome after transsphenoidal adenoma resection

Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) represents the gold standard of pituitary adenoma resection, providing a safe and minimal invasive treatment for patients suffering from symptoms of mass effect. The aim of this study is to analyze the postoperative improvement of visual function after adenoma resection and to identify prognostic factors for the postoperative clinical recovery. We performed a retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients treated via a transsphenoidal approach for pituitary adenomas from April 2006 to December 2019 in a high-volume neurosurgical department. Our primary outcome was postoperative visual acuity and visual field impairment; the clinical findings were followed up to 3 months after surgery and correlated with clinical and radiographic findings. In total, 440 surgeries were performed in our department for tumors of the sella region in a time period of 13 years via transsphenoidal approach, and 191 patients included in the analysis. Mean age was 55 years, and 98% were macroadenomas. Mean preoperative visual acuity in patients with preoperative impairment (n = 133) improved significantly from 0.64/0.65 to 0.72/0.75 and 0.76/0.8 (right eye R/left eye L) postoperatively and at 3 months follow-up (p < 0.001). Visual acuity significantly depended on Knosp classification but not Hardy grading. The strongest predictor for visual function recovery was age. Transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection remains a safe and effective treatment in patients with preoperative visual impairment. It significantly improves visual acuity and field defects after surgery, and recovery continues at the 3 months follow-up examination.

The GALANT trial: study protocol of a randomised placebo-controlled trial in patients with a 68Ga -DOTATATE PET-positive, clinically non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma on the effect of lan reotide on t umour size

INTRODUCTION

At present, there is no approved medical treatment option for patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma. A number of open-label studies suggest that treatment with somatostatin analogues may prevent tumour progression. In vivo somatostatin receptor imaging using ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATATE PET (PET, positron emission tomography) could help in preselecting patients potentially responsive to treatment. Our aim is to investigate the effect of the somatostatin analogue lanreotide as compared with placebo on tumour size in patients with a ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATATE PET-positive non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma (NFMA).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The GALANT study is a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in adult patients with a suprasellar extending NFMA. Included patients undergo a ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT of the head and tracer uptake is assessed after coregistration with pituitary MRI. Forty-four patients with a ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATATE PET-positive NFMA are randomised in a 1:1 ratio between lanreotide 120 mg or placebo, both administered as subcutaneous injections every 28 days for 72 weeks. The primary outcome is the change in cranio-caudal tumour diameter on pituitary MRI after treatment. Secondary outcomes are change in tumour volume, time to tumour progression, change in quality of life and number of adverse events. Final results are expected in the second half of 2021.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study protocol has been approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committee of the Academic Medical Centre (AMC) of the Amsterdam University Medical Centres and by the Dutch competent authority. It is an investigator-initiated study with financial support by Ipsen Farmaceutica BV. The AMC, as sponsor, remains owner of all data. Results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NL5136 (Netherlands Trial Register); pre-recruitment.

Quality of care evaluation in non-functioning pituitary adenoma with chiasm compression: visual outcomes and timing of intervention clinical recommendations based on a systematic literature review and cohort study

PURPOSE

Surgery in patients with non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas (NFMA) is effective in ameliorating visual function. The urgency for decompression, and preferred timing of surgery related to the preoperative severity of dysfunction is unknown.

METHODS

Systematic review for evidence to provide clinical guidance for timing of surgical decompression of the optic chiasm, and a cohort study of 30 NFMA patients, in whom mean deviation (MD), and severity of visual dysfunction was assessed.

RESULTS

Systematic review 44 studies were included with a total of 4789 patients. Postoperatively, visual field defects improved in 87.0% of patients, stabilized in 12.8% and worsened in 1.0%. Specific protocols regarding timing of surgery were not reported. Only seven studies (16.7%) reported on either the duration of visual symptoms, or diagnostic, or treatment delay. Cohort study 30 NFMA patients (50% female, 60 eyes, mean age 58.5 ± 14.8 years), had a median MD of - 5.3 decibel (IQR - 3.1 to - 10.1). MD was strongly correlated with clinical severity (r =  - 0.94, P < 0.0001), and were used for severity of defects cut-off values: (1) normal >  - 2 dB, (2) mild - 2 dB to - 4 dB, (3) moderate - 4 to - 8 dB, (4) severe - 8 to - 17 dB, (5) very severe <  - 17 dB.

CONCLUSION

Surgical decompression is highly effective in improving visual function. Uniform, quantitative grading of visual dysfunction was lacking. MD is a promising quantitative outcome measure. We provide recommendations for the evaluation of timing of surgery, considering severity of visual impairment, which will need further validation based on expert clinical practice.

TBR-760, a Dopamine-Somatostatin Compound, Arrests Growth of Aggressive Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas in Mice

TBR-760 (formerly BIM-23A760) is a chimeric dopamine (DA)-somatostatin (SST) compound with potent agonist activity at both DA type 2 (D2R) and SST type 2 (SSTR2) receptors. Studies have shown that chimeric DA-SST compounds are more efficacious than individual DA and/or SST analogues, either alone or combined, in inhibiting secretion from primary cultures of human somatotroph and lactotroph tumor cells. Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) express both D2R and SSTR2 and, consequently, may respond to TBR-760. We used a mouse model with the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene knocked out that spontaneously develops aggressive NFPAs. Genomic microarray and DA and SST receptor messenger RNA expression analysis indicate that POMC KO mouse tumors and human NFPAs have similar expression profiles, despite arising from different cell lineages, establishing POMC KO mice as a model for study of NFPAs. Treatment with TBR-760 for 8 weeks resulted in nearly complete inhibition of established tumor growth, whereas tumors from vehicle-treated mice increased in size by 890 ± 0.7%. Comparing TBR-760 with its individual DA and SST components, TBR-760 arrested tumor growth. Treatment with equimolar or 10×-higher doses of the individual SST or DA agonists, either alone or in combination, had no significant effect. One exception was the lower dose of DA agonist that induced modest suppression of tumor growth. Only the chimeric compound TBR-760 arrested tumor growth in this mouse model of NFPA. Further, significant tumor shrinkage was observed in 20% of the mice treated with TBR-760. These results support the development of TBR-760 as a therapy for patients with NFPA.

Now You See, Now You Don't: A Case Of Spontaneous Regression of Pituitary Tumour

Spontaneous regression of pituitary tumours are rare and can be due to tumour ischaemia, pituitary apoplexy, or lymphocytic hypophysitis. We report a case of a 32-year-old female, who presented with symptoms and signs of extrasellar pituitary enlargement and hypothyroidism. MRI revealed a pituitary mass that spontaneously regressed after a month, with complete resolution of symptoms. Not all pituitary tumours require surgical intervention especially in the case of autoimmune lymphocytic hypophysitis.

Feasibility, safety, and outcomes of a stratified fast-track care trajectory in pituitary surgery

OBJECTIVE

Discharge policies concerning hospitalization after endoscopic pituitary tumor surgery are highly variable. A few studies support fast-track discharge; however, this is not commonplace. Our goal was to report the transition to and evaluate the feasibility, safety, clinical- and patient-reported outcomes and costs of fast-track care in pituitary surgery.

METHODS

This observational study included 155 patients undergoing pituitary surgery between December 2016 and December 2018. Fast-track care consisted of planned discharge 2-3 days after surgery, followed by daily surveillance by a case manager. All outcomes were compared with patients not eligible for fast-track discharge. The total group (fast-track and non-fast-track) was compared with historic controls (N = 307).

RESULTS

A total of 79/155 patients (51%) were considered eligible for fast-track discharge, of whom 69 (87%) were discharged within 3 days. The total group was discharged more often within 3 days compared with historic controls (49 vs. 20%, p < 0.001), the total length of stay did not differ (5.3 vs. 5.7 days, p = 0.363). Although the total group had more readmissions compared with historic controls (17 vs. 10%, p = 0.002), no life-threatening complications occurred after discharge. On average, clinical- and patient-reported outcomes improved over time, both in the fast-track and non-fast-track groups. The mean overall costs within 30 days after surgery did not differ between the total group € 9992 (SD € 4562) and historic controls € 9818 (SD € 3488) (p = 0.649).

CONCLUSION

A stratified fast-track care trajectory with enhanced postoperative outpatient surveillance after pituitary tumor surgery is safe and feasible. As expected, costs of the fast-track were lower than the non-fast-track group, however we could not prove overall cost-effectiveness compared with the historic controls.

Diagnosis and Management of pituitary disease with focus on the role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is an essential tool in the diagnosis and management of pituitary diseases, indispensable for making correct treatment decisions. Successful management and follow-up of pituitary pathology requires an understanding of the MR appearance of normal and abnormal structures in the sellar region. This review will describe the MR appearance of the normal and abnormal pituitary gland and proposes an algorithm for the management strategy of some of the most common abnormalities in or around the sella.

Neuronal Differentiation in a Pituitary Macroadenoma with Focal Small Blue Round Cell Morphology: Report of a Rare Pattern

Ganglion cell-containing pituitary adenomas that are neurofilament protein-positive are the exceedingly rare form of pituitary ganliocytomas. We report a case of a 23-year-old male patient who presented with a clinical picture of acromegaly in addition to raised prolactin level. Histopathology showed areas exhibiting pseudopapillary and solid proliferation of round and monotonous blue cells. The immunohistochemistry showed strong reactivity for synaptophysin and growth hormone and focal reactivity to prolactin. Fibrous bodies are confirmed using cytokeratin immunostain, in keeping with sparsely granulated somatotroph component. The patient remained free of recurrence after one year of radiological follow-up.

Trans-nasal Trans-sphenoidal Endoscopic Resection of Spindle Cell Oncocytoma of Adenohypophysis: The First Case Report in a Child and a Review of Literature

Spindle cell oncocytoma (SCO) is a rare tumor of adenohypophysis, arising from the sellar region. So far, about 35 cases of SCO in the sellar region have been reported. In this report, we present the first case of pediatric SCO and review the literature concerning the tumor origin, clinical presentations, radiological features, and treatment modalities. An 8-year-old male was referred to our clinic with progressive visual loss in the left eye and headache over the past 6 months. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed a solid adenohypophysis mass with suprasellar extension, as well as compression and displacement of the optic chiasm. The patient underwent endoscopic trans-sphenoidal resection of the tumor. The tumor was diagnosed as SCO based on the histological study. He did not receive radiation therapy. The patient's condition remained stable, with no radiological recurrence in the past follow-up 2 years after the surgery.

Presenting Features in 269 Patients With Clinically Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas Enrolled in a Prospective Study

Context

Clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (CNFPAs) typically remain undetected until mass effect symptoms develop. However, currently, head imaging is performed commonly for many other indications, which may increase incidental discovery of CNFPAs. Since current presentation and outcome data are based on older, retrospective series, a prospective characterization of a contemporary CNFPA cohort was needed.

Objective

To determine the prevalence of incidental presentation and hypopituitarism and its predictors in a CNFPA cohort that spanned 6 to 9 mm micro- to macroadenoma included observational and surgical therapy.

Methods

At enrollment in a prospective, observational study, 269 patients with CNFPAs were studied by history, examination, blood sampling, and pituitary imaging analysis and categorized into incidental or symptoms presentation groups that were compared.

Results

Presentation was incidental in 48.7% of patients and due to tumor symptoms in 51.3%. In the symptoms and incidental groups, 58.7% and 27.4% of patients had hypopituitarism, respectively, and 25% of patients with microadenomas had hypopituitarism. Many had unappreciated signs and symptoms of pituitary disease. Most tumors were macroadenomas (87%) and were larger in the symptoms than incidental and hypopituitary groups than in the eupituitary groups. The patients in the incidental group were older, and males were older and had larger tumors in both the incidental and symptoms groups.

Conclusions

Patients with CNFPAs commonly present incidentally and with previously unrecognized hypopituitarism and symptoms that could have prompted earlier diagnosis. Our data support screening all large micro and macro-CNFPAs for hypopituitarism. Most patients with CNFPAs still have mass effect signs at presentation, suggesting the need for more awareness of pituitary disease. Our ongoing, prospective observation of this cohort will assess outcomes of these CNFPA groups.

Quantitative Analysis of Proteome in Non-functional Pituitary Adenomas: Clinical Relevance and Potential Benefits for the Patients

Background: Non-functional pituitary adenoma (NFPA) is a common tumor that occurs in the pituitary gland, and generally without any symptoms at its early stage and without clinical elevation of hormones, which is commonly diagnosed when it grows up to compress its surrounding tissues and organs. Currently, the pathogenesis of NFPA has not been clarified yet. It is necessary to investigate molecular alterations in NFPA, and identify reliable biomarkers and drug therapeutic targets for effective treatments. Methods: Tandem mass tags (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics was used to identify and quantify proteins in NFPAs. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were used to analyze the identified proteins. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between NFPA and control tissues were obtained from GEO datasets. These two sets of protein and gene data were analyzed to obtain overlapped molecules (genes; proteins), followed by further GO and KEGG pathway analyses of these overlapped molecules, and molecular network analysis to obtain the hub molecules with Cytoscape. Two hub molecules (SRC and AKT1) were verified with Western blotting. Results: Totally 6076 proteins in NFPA tissues were identified, and 3598 DEGs between NFPA and control tissues were identified from GEO database. Overlapping analysis of 6076 proteins and 3598 DEGs obtained 1088 overlapped molecules (DEGs; proteins). KEGG pathway analysis of 6076 proteins obtained 114 statistically significant pathways, including endocytosis, and spliceosome signaling pathways. KEGG pathway analysis of 1088 overlapped molecules obtained 52 statistically significant pathways, including focal adhesion, cGMP-PKG pathway, and platelet activation signaling pathways. These pathways play important roles in cell energy supply, adhesion, and maintenance of the tumor microenvironment. According to the association degree in Cytoscape, ten hub molecules (DEGs; proteins) were identified, including GAPDH, ALB, ACACA, SRC, ENO2, CALM1, POTEE, HSPA8, DECR1, and AKT1. Western-blotting analysis confirmed the upregulated expressions of SRC and PTMScan experiment confirmed the increased levels of pAKT1, in NFPAs compared to controls. Conclusions: This study established the large-scale quantitative protein profiling of NFPA tissue proteome. It offers a basis for subsequent in-depth proteomics analysis of NFPAs, and insight into the molecular mechanism of NFPAs. It also provided the basic data to discover reliable biomarkers and therapeutic targets for NFPA patients.

Presentation, Management, and Outcomes of Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas: An Experience from a Developing Country

Objective The goal of this study was to evaluate the presentation, management, and clinical outcome of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) in a tertiary care setup. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of patient records of 157 patients with the diagnosis of NFPA managed at Aga Khan University Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2017. We collected data on basic demographic characteristics, signs, and presenting symptoms, management, and outcomes. Data analysis was performed by using Stata, Version 12 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX). Results Most patients in the study were men (59%), and the mean age of the study population was 48 ± 14 years. The main presentations of NFPA were visual disturbance (77%) and headache (55%). In 78% of patients, the tumor was >1 cm on MRI. Most (87%) of patients underwent surgical resection, and of those, 93% received transsphenoidal surgery that was well tolerated. In the study population, 31% of patients had transient, 9% had permanent diabetes insipidus, and 25% developed hyponatremia. Of those in the study, 53% had low cortisol, 57% had hypothyroidism, and 27% needed sex hormone replacement after surgery. Residual tumor was confirmed in 43% of patients by postoperative MRI. Tumor recurrence and regrowth occurred in 17 patients and required repeat resection or radiosurgery. Conclusion In Pakistan, patients with NFPAs are more likely to present during the later stage, with larger adenoma and compressive symptoms compared to patients in developed countries. For the detection of residual disease and tumor recurrence, close screening and a multidisciplinary approach are needed after surgery.

Developing an optimal follow-up strategy based on the natural history of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas

OBJECTIVE

The natural history and proper algorithm for follow-up testing of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (PAs) are not well known, despite their relatively high prevalence. The aim of this study was to suggest the optimal follow-up algorithm for nonfunctioning PAs based on their natural history.

METHODS

The authors followed up 197 patients with nonfunctioning PAs that had not been treated (including surgery and radiation therapy) at the time of detection, in a single center, between March 2000 and February 2017. They conducted a hormone test, visual field test, and MRI at the time of diagnosis and yearly thereafter.

RESULTS

The overall median follow-up duration was 37 months. Microadenomas (n = 38) did not cause visual disturbance, pituitary apoplexy, or endocrine dysfunction. The incidence of patients with tumor volume growth ≥ 20% was higher for macroadenomas than microadenomas (13.8 vs 5.0 per 100 person-years [PYs], p = 0.002). The median time to any tumor growth was 4.8 years (95% CI 3.4-4.8 years) for microadenomas and 4 years (95% CI 3.3-4.2 years) for macroadenomas. The overall incidence of worsening visual function was 0.69 per 100 PYs. Patients with a tumor volume growth rate ≥ 0.88 cm3/year (n = 20) had a higher incidence of worsening visual function (4.69 vs 0.30 per 100 PYs, p < 0.001). The tumor growth rate of all microadenomas was < 0.88 cm3/year. The median time to tumor growth ≥ 20% was 3.3 years (95% CI 1.8-3.9 years) in patients with a tumor growth rate ≥ 0.88 cm3/year and 4.9 years (95% CI 4.6-7.2 years) in patients with a tumor growth rate < 0.88 cm3/year.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors have devised a follow-up strategy based on the tumor volume growth rate as well as initial tumor volume. In patients with microadenomas, the next MRI study can be performed at 3 years. In patients with macroadenomas, the second MRI study should be performed between 6 months and 1 year to assess the tumor growth rate. In patients with a tumor growth rate ≥ 0.88 cm3/year, the MRI study should be performed within 2 years. In patients with a tumor growth rate < 0.88 cm3/year, the MRI study can be delayed until 4 years.

Non-functioning pituitary adenomas: indications for pituitary surgery and post-surgical management

PURPOSE

Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) are associated with impaired well-being, increased comorbidities, and reduced long-term survival. Data on optimal management of NFPAs around surgical treatment are scarce, and postoperative treatment and follow-up strategies have not been evaluated in prospective trials. Here, we review the preoperative, perioperative, and early postoperative management of patients with NFPAs.

METHODS

We searched Medline and the Cochrane Library for articles published in English with the following items "Pituitary neoplasms AND Surgery" and "Surgery AND Hypopituitarism". Studies containing detailed analyses of the management of NFPAs in adult patients, including pituitary surgery, endocrine care, imaging, ophthalmologic assessment and long-term outcome were reviewed.

RESULTS

Treatment options for NFPAs include active surveillance, surgical resection, and radiotherapy. Pituitary surgery is currently recommended as first-line treatment in patients with visual impairment due to adenomas compressing the optic nerves or chiasma. Radiotherapy is reserved for large tumor remnants or tumor recurrence following one or more surgical attempts. There is no consensus of optimal pre-, peri-, and postoperative management such as timing, frequency, and duration of endocrine, radiologic, and ophthalmologic assessments as well as management of smaller tumor remnants or tumor recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

In clinical practice, there is a great variation in the treatment and follow-up of patients with NFPAs. We have, based on available data, suggested an optimal management strategy for patients with NFPAs in relation to pituitary surgery. Prospective trials oriented at drawing up strategies for the management of NFPAs are needed.

Medical therapy for non-functioning pituitary tumors-a critical approach

Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) are the second most common variant of pituitary tumors. When symptomatic, primary therapy is surgery. Recurrence rates are high. Since many NFPAs express dopamine and somatostatin receptors, medical therapy has been used after surgery in order to prevent recurrence. So far, dopamine agonists have been more widely tested with some promise when introduced immediately after surgery but with less efficacy when introduced later upon tumor regrowth. Currently, the role of medical therapy to prevent tumor regrowth in NFPAs is limited by imprecisions as to final outcome and uncertainties concerning on patient selection, dosing, duration, and side effects.

Management of pituitary incidentaloma

Pituitary incidentalomas (PIs) represent a modern clinical entity increasingly recognized due to advances and easier accessibility to imaging techniques. By definition, PIs should be detected during brain imaging performed for investigation of a non-pituitary disease. Although anatomic variations, technical artefacts or pituitary hyperplasia might also be interpreted as PIs, the most relevant incidentally detected lesions are those that fulfill radiological criteria for a pituitary adenoma in asymptomatic patients or in the presence of subclinical diseases. The natural history of PIs is not fully determined, but there is a wealth of evidence indicating that most microincidentalomas (lesions < 10 mm) have a benign course, whereas macroincidentalomas (≥10 mm) deserve more attention due to an increased risk for hormone abnormalities and mass effects. This concept is important to keep in mind for an optimal diagnostic and therapeutic management of PIs that avoids harmful iatrogenesis and unnecessary health care costs.

Growth Pattern and Prognostic Factors of Untreated Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas

Objective

Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are often detected as incidental findings. However, the natural history remains unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the natural history and growth pattern of untreated PAs.

Methods

Between 2003 and 2014, 59 PAs were managed with clinico-radiological follow up for longer than 12 months without any kind of therapeutic intervention. Tumor volumes were calculated at initial and last follow-up visit, and tumor growth during the observation period was determined. Data were analyzed according to clinical and imaging characteristics.

Results

The mean initial and last tumor volume and diameter were 1.83±2.97 mL and 13.77±6.45 mm, 2.85±4.47 mL and 15.75±8.08 mm, respectively. The mean annual tumor growth rate was 0.33±0.68 mL/year during a mean observation period of 46.8±32.1 months. Sixteen (27%) PAs showed tumor growth. The initial tumor size (HR, 1.140; 95% confidence interval, 1.003–1.295; p=0.045) was the independent predictive factor that determined the tumor growth. Six patients (11%) of 56 conservatively managed non-symptomatic PAs underwent resection for aggravating visual symptoms with mean interval of 34.5 months from diagnosis. By Cox regression analysis, PAs of last longest diameter over 21.75 mm were a significant prognostic factor for eventual treatment.

Conclusion

The initial tumor size of PAs was independently associated with the tumor growth. Six patients (11%) of conservatively managed PAs were likely to be treated eventually. PAs of last follow-up longest diameter over 21.75 mm were a significant prognostic factor for treatment. Further studies with a large series are required to determine treatment strategy.

Efficacy of transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumor: A protocol for systematic review

BACKGROUND

This systematic review aims to assess the efficacy and safety of transsphenoidal surgery (TPS) for patients with a pituitary tumor (PT).

METHODS

We will retrieve the following electronic databases for randomized controlled trials or case-control studies to assess the effect and safety of TPS for PT: Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. Each database will be retrieved from the inception to December 20, 2018. The entire process consists of the study selection, data collection, methodology quality assessment, data pooled, and meta-analysis performance. The methodology quality will be assessed by using Cochrane risk of bias tool. The data pooled and meta-analysis will be conducted by using RevMan 5.3 software.

RESULTS

This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of TPS for PT. The primary outcome includes total tumor resection rate. The secondary outcomes consist of quality of life, total tumor resection rate, postoperative complication rate, and the rate of functional tumor hormone levels.

CONCLUSION

The expected results may provide up-to-date evidence of TPS for the treatment of PT.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO CRD42018120194.

Deferred Radiotherapy After Debulking of Non-functioning Pituitary Macroadenomas: Clinical Outcomes

Background: To describe the outcome for a cohort of patients with non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas (NFPMA), managed by debulking surgery with radiation therapy delayed until progression. Methods: Two hundred and sixty-seven patients were treated surgically for pituitary tumors at our institution between 1997 and 2005. One hundred and twenty-six patients met the inclusion criteria of NFPMA. They were followed for at least 2 years. Results: At presentation, 58% of patients had objectively decreased visual function, 66% had endocrine abnormalities, and 46% had headaches. Of the entire cohort, 75% of tumors abutted the optic chiasm and 87% had suprasellar extension. Over a median follow up of 112 months from surgery, 52% of patients had evidence of radiographic tumor progression, and 39% required additional treatment. There was a significant difference freedom from progression and in the number of patients receiving additional treatment with preoperative adenoma size of < 2 vs. ≥2 cm (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Close observation with radiation therapy delayed until the time of progression is an appropriate option for patients presenting with initial adenoma size < 2 cm, and can be considered for those with initial sizes up to 4 cm, as the majority of patients do not require further intervention for 10 or more years, thereby meaningfully postponing the risks of radiotherapy.

Factors Influencing Visual Field Recovery after Transsphenoidal Resection of a Pituitary Adenoma

Purpose

This study aimed to analyze the factors influencing visual field recovery after transsphenoidal approach-tumor resection (TSA-TR) in pituitary adenoma patients with visual field defects (VFDs).

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 102 eyes of 102 patients with VFDs induced by pituitary adenomas who underwent TSA-TR between January 2010 and December 2015. All patients had been observed for more than one year. The severity of the VFD in each patient was evaluated using the mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation in the most-affected eye. Clinical and demographic data such as preoperative visual acuity and visual field, age, sex, tumor volume, neurological symptoms at diagnosis, duration of symptoms, patterns of the preoperative VFD, and preoperative central VFD were investigated and analyzed for association with recovery of the visual field.

Results

Recovery from VFDs occurred in 71 (69.6%) eyes after a mean period of 18.36 ± 5.21 months. The recovery group was younger (p = 0.003), had higher preoperative MD values (p = 0.016), and had better preoperative visual acuity (p = 0.03), compared with the non-recovery group. Preoperative central VFD (p = 0.006) and preoperative bilateral VFD (p = 0.016) were significantly less frequent in the recovery group. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that age at diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 0.962; p = 0.022), preoperative MD (OR, 1.069; p = 0.046), preoperative central VFD (OR, 0.212; p = 0.039), and preoperative bilateral VFD (OR, 0.212; p = 0.035) were associated with visual field recovery after TSA-TR.

Conclusions

Younger age, higher preoperative MD, and the preoperative abscence of central VFD or bilateral VFD were favorable factors influencing visual field recovery after TSA-TR in patients with pituitary adenomas. An understanding of the associated clinical factors may help predict visual outcomes after TSA-TR in pituitary adenoma patients with VFDs.

Work disability and its determinants in patients with pituitary tumor-related disease

INTRODUCTION

Pituitary tumors may have a considerable impact on patients' functional status, including paid employment, yet research in this area is sparse.

OBJECTIVE

To describe work disability and its determinants in patients treated for a pituitary tumor.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study including patients treated for a pituitary tumor in the working age (18-65 years), who completed five validated questionnaires assessing work disability [Short Form-Health and Labour Questionnaire, Work Role Functioning Questionnaire 2.0 (WRFQ)], health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and utility (Short Form-36, EuroQoL) and disease burden (Leiden Bother and Needs Questionnaire-Pituitary). Additional data were extracted from the medical records (age, gender, tumor type, treatment, date of diagnosis) and self-reports (marital status, education, endocrine status). Associations of disease-specific and sociodemographic characteristics, HRQoL, and disease burden with (not) having a paid job were examined through multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

We included 241 patients (61% female, median age 53 years, median time since diagnosis 11 years), of whom 68 (28%) were without a paid job. Patients who had acromegaly, Cushing's disease, (pan)hypopituitarism, radiotherapy, were single, less educated, lower HRQoL, and increased disease burden were more often without a paid job (p < 0.05). Among those with paid jobs, 41% reported health-related absenteeism in the previous year. The three work incapacitating problems reported by the largest proportion of patients were within the mental and social domain (WRFQ).

CONCLUSION

Work disability among patients treated for a pituitary tumor is substantial. As impact on social functioning is high, it is strongly advised to incorporate work disability during clinical guidance of patients.

Spontaneous preoperative pituitary adenoma resolution following apoplexy: a case presentation and literature review

Purpose: We aim to more fully understand the incidence and natural history of spontaneously resolving non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs).Methods: We report a case of spontaneous complete resolution of a NFPA revealed by preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, we searched all major databases and neurosurgery journals to perform a comprehensive literature review of all previously reported cases of spontaneously resolving NFPAs. We discuss how these cases may contribute to our understanding of the natural course for non-functional pituitary adenomas.Results: To date, only twelve cases of spontaneously resolving nonfunctional pituitary adenomas have previously been reported. The presented case is the first reported spontaneously resolved nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma to recur. In all cases, apoplexy resulted in resolution of mass effect, obviating the need for surgical decompression.Conclusions: In all NFPA cases, the preoperative MRI should always be studied closely before surgery is initiated. Additionally, because we have demonstrated that the adenoma may regrow after spontaneous regression following apoplexy, these patients should be followed with regular serial MRIs to monitor for recurrence.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of pituitary tumours in a single centre in Saudi Arabia

PURPOSE

Pituitary tumours are slowly progressing tumours, mostly benign, with a reported global prevalence of 16.7% (22.5% in radiologic studies and 14.4% in autopsy studies). Clinical and epidemiological data on pituitary adenomas in Saudi Arabia are lacking. We aimed to utilise our database variables to determine clinical and epidemiological characteristics as well as treatment outcomes of pituitary tumours among Saudi patients.

METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted in King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in patients with pituitary tumours. Data were collected between 2006 and 2017.

RESULTS

Overall, 284 patients (females: 38.1 ± 13.9 years; males: 44.1 ± 15.4 years) with pituitary tumours were included. Common pituitary tumours were prolactin-secreting adenomas (45%), non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs: 35.6%), growth hormone (GH)-secreting adenomas (10.6%), craniopharyngiomas (7%), and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting adenomas (1.8%). Prolactin-secreting adenomas were more frequently microadenomas and were common among females. Headaches and visual symptoms occurred commonly in NFPA patients (62.4 and 45.5%, respectively) than in those with prolactin-secreting adenomas (56.3 and 32.8%, respectively) or GH-secreting adenomas (40 and 16.6%, respectively). Medical treatment was the mainstay for prolactin-secreting adenoma patients (69%). Pituitary surgery was the primary therapy in NFPA patients (43.6%) and GH-secreting adenomas (86.7%).

CONCLUSION

This study identified the pattern of pituitary tumours in Saudi patients and management strategies. Further, the study highlights the need for a nationwide registry to improve surveillance and physicians' knowledge in Saudi Arabia.