Long-term surgical outcome in 16 patients with thyrotropin pituitary adenoma

A reference center study in thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas: clinicopathological, therapeutic and long-term follow-up outcomes

PURPOSE

This study aims to analyze the clinicopathological features, diagnostic steps, and therapeutic results of TSHomas and to reveal the effective factors on remission.

METHODS

The clinical, radiological, and pathological features and surgical and endocrinological results of 41 TSHoma cases followed between 2005 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The factors affecting the surgical cure were investigated by comparing the groups with and without remission.

RESULTS

A total of 41 patients (23 male,18 female) were included in the study and the mean age was 42 (31.5-49). Palpitation and headache were the most common complaints. The time from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 8 (3-20) months. There were 8 patients with a preoperative clinical and biochemical diagnosis of TSH + GH co-secretion. In the TRH stimulation test, a blunted TSH response was obtained in 18 patients (90.0%). Complete suppression could not be obtained in any of the patients who underwent the T3 suppression test. The median maximum tumor diameter was 19.0 mm (6.8-41). There was microadenoma in 4 (9.8%) patients and macroadenoma in 37 patients (92.8%). Remission was achieved in 31 (75.6%) of 40 patients who underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (eTSS). The Ki-67 labeling index was 2% (1.00-4.00) in the entire patient group. Preoperative use of antithyroid drugs appears to be significantly associated with surgical cure.

CONCLUSION

Diagnosis of TSHoma is still full of challenges and dynamic tests remain important. Recognition and good management of inappropriate TSH secretion states affect subsequent surgical outcomes.

Influence of gender and sexual hormones on outcomes after pituitary surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Although there is an increasing body of evidence showing gender differences in various medical domains as well as presentation and biology of pituitary adenoma (PA), gender differences regarding outcome of patients who underwent transsphenoidal resection of PA are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify gender differences in PA surgery.

METHODS

The PubMed/MEDLINE database was searched up to April 2023 to identify eligible articles. Quality appraisal and extraction were performed in duplicate.

RESULTS

A total of 40 studies including 4989 patients were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Our analysis showed odds ratio of postoperative biochemical remission in males vs. females of 0.83 (95% CI 0.59-1.15, P = 0.26), odds ratio of gross total resection in male vs. female patients of 0.68 (95% CI 0.34-1.39, P = 0.30), odds ratio of postoperative diabetes insipidus in male vs. female patients of 0.40 (95% CI 0.26-0.64, P < 0.0001), and a mean difference of preoperative level of prolactin in male vs. female patients of 11.62 (95% CI - 119.04-142.27, P = 0.86).

CONCLUSIONS

There was a significantly higher rate of postoperative DI in female patients after endoscopic or microscopic transsphenoidal PA surgery, and although there was some data in isolated studies suggesting influence of gender on postoperative biochemical remission, rate of GTR, and preoperative prolactin levels, these findings could not be confirmed in this meta-analysis and demonstrated no statistically significant effect. Further research is needed and future studies concerning PA surgery should report their data by gender or sexual hormones and ideally further assess their impact on PA surgery.

The effect of preoperative short-term octreotide treatment to surgery in thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

To prevent thyroid storm and ensure surgical safety, it is imperative to regulate excessive thyroid hormone levels in patients with thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas (TSHoma) prior to surgery. Somatostatin analogues (SSAs), such as octreotide, have showed efficacy in shrinking tumors, which may facilitate surgical resection. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the effect of shortterm preoperative octreotide treatment on the surgical outcome of TSHoma.

METHODS

A total of 65 TSHoma patients from January 2010 to July 2019 were included in the study. Of these,41 patients received short-term preoperative octreotide (Sandostatin, intermittent subcutaneous injection) treatment and all patients subsequently underwent surgery. The following data were recorded: clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, sellar region MRI, postoperative pathological and electron microscopy data, intraoperative situation, and follow-up (> 3 months) regarding hormone levels and tumor recurrence.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the consistency and blood supply of the tumor between patients who received short-term preoperative octreotide treatment and those who did not. Additionally, preoperative short-term octreotide treatment (median of 10 days with a range of 6-18 days) did not significantly improve the rates of gross total resection (GTR) or biochemical remission. Moreover, electron microscopy revealed subcellular level impairments and cell apoptotic in the octreotide treated TSHoma specimens.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative octreotide treatment for the purpose of reducing excessive thyroid hormones may not enhance surgical outcomes, and the duration of octreotide treatment needs to be extended to fully benefit from the tumor-shrinking effects of SSAs.

Changes in standing and walking time after multimodal physical rehabilitation in low grade degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis: a non-randomised pilot study

BACKGROUND

Surgery is often prescribed to patients with significant reduction in standing time (ST) and walking time (WT) due to degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS). The efficacy of a multimodal physical rehabilitation protocol (MPRP) in improving ST and WT in patients with DLS is not known.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of MPRP on ST and WT in patients with DLS and compare the results with similar patients treated with other physiotherapy treatment (OPT) methods.

METHODS

Outcomes including numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores, ST and WT were compared in patients in the MPRP and OPT groups.

RESULTS

Data from 25 patients in MPRP group and 10 patients in OPT group were analyzed. In the MPRP group, the mean NPRS and ODI scores, ST, and WT improved significantly (p < .0001) after MPRP at a mean follow-up of 328 days. The mean NPRS score was significantly lower (p = .0001); mean ST (p = .03), and mean WT (p = .03) were significantly higher; and the mean NPRS improvement (p < .0001), mean ST improvement (p = .001), and mean WT improvement (p = .008) were significantly higher in MPRP group when compared to the OPT group at final follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Patients with low-grade DLS showed significant improvement in ST and WT after MPRP when compared to similar patients who underwent other physiotherapy treatments. These encouraging results indicate that MPRP can be utilized as a primary treatment option in patients with significantly reduced ST and WT due to DLS.

Dopamine agonists for the treatment of pituitary tumours: From ergot extracts to next generation therapies

Dopamine agonists are a key tool in the therapeutic arsenal of endocrinologists worldwide. They exert their effects by binding to dopamine-2 (D2) receptors expressed by pituitary tumour cells to modulate hormonal secretion and tumour size. They are the established first-line treatment for prolactinomas which express high levels of D2 receptors. Growing data support their use as an adjuvant treatment option for other pituitary tumours including growth hormone, adrenocorticotrophic hormones, thyroid hormone secreting adenomas and nonfunctional pituitary tumours, all of which have been shown to express D2 receptors as well, albeit to varying extents. For those pituitary tumours inadequately treated by dopamine agonist alone, combined agonism of D2 and somatostatin receptors represent a new frontier in clinical development. Here we review the development and role of dopamine agonist for the treatment of prolactinomas, the literature supporting their adjuvant use for the treatment of all other pituitary tumours, and recent progress in the development of the next generation of chimeric compounds that target D2 and other receptor subtypes highly expressed on pituitary tumour cells.

Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas induce left atrial enlargement with subclinical atrial fibrillation: an echocardiographic study

PURPOSE

Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenoma (TSHoma) is rare but occasionally causes cardiovascular complications such as atrial fibrillation (AF) due to hyperthyroidism. Graves' disease (GD) is a common hyperthyroid condition often associated with subclinical AF. Some reports have shown echocardiographic changes in patients with GD. We aimed to evaluate the preoperative cardiac function in patients with TSHomas and compared the results among patients with TSHomas and GD and control subjects.

METHODS

Patients with TSHomas (n = 6) and GD (n = 20) were compared with control subjects with normal cardiac function (n = 20) based on echocardiographic findings. The average age, sex, and proportions of patients with a history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension were equal in each group, and the AF prevalence was matched in patients with TSHomas and GD. The values of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVEDs), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left atrial diameter (LAD) were used to assess cardiac function.

RESULTS

In echocardiography, LAD showed a significant difference between patients with TSHomas and control subjects (p = 0.026). The mean LAD values were 36.9 ± 7.1, 38.2 ± 8.9, and 28.7 ± 3.9 mm for patients with TSHomas and GD and control subjects, respectively. There were no significant differences in other echocardiographic parameters among the groups. Before treatment, serum thyroid hormone levels (free triiodothyronine and thyroxin) were not significantly different among patients with TSHomas and GD.

CONCLUSION

We found that patients with TSHomas or GD had enlarged LADs. This finding suggests that AF may be more hidden in patients with TSHomas than previously reported.

Clinical relevance of tumor consistency in pituitary adenoma

PURPOSE

To review the clinical relevance of pituitary adenoma (PA) consistency and its relationship to clinical presentation, radiologic and histopathological characteristics, and surgical outcomes.

BACKGROUND

PA consistency is a critical factor influencing operative planning, surgical outcomes, and patient counseling. There is no validated classification of PA consistency in the literature, and there are no current preoperative variables capable of predicting it.

REVIEW

We conducted a thorough literature review of the Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. The inclusion criteria were all articles that described PA consistency and correlated it with preoperative aspects, radiological, pathological, and operative findings, or clinical outcomes.

DISCUSSION

Although most authors differentiate easily aspirated (soft) tumors from those that are not (fibrous, might require prior fragmentation), there is no universally accepted PA consistency classification. Fibrous PA tends to be hypointense on T2WI and has lower apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. Fibrous tumors seemed to present higher invasion into neighboring structures, including the cavernous sinus. Several articles suggest that dopamine agonists could increase PA consistency and that prior surgery and radiotherapy also make PA more fibrous. The anatomopathological studies identify collagen as being mainly responsible for fibrous consistency of adenomas.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative knowledge of PA consistency affords the neurosurgeon substantial benefit, which clearly appears to be relevant to surgical planning, risks, and surgery outcomes. It could also encourage the centralization of these high complexity tumors in reference centers. Further studies may be enhanced by applying standard consistency classification of the PA and analyzing a more extensive and prospective series of fibrous PA.

Is acute kidney injury after laparoscopic adrenalectomy related to the progression of chronic kidney disease in patients with primary aldosteronism?

Purpose

This study was conducted to investigate the predictors of kidney outcome after laparoscopic adrenalectomy in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA).

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 74 patients who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy for the treatment of PA from January 2011 to December 2019. Patient characteristics and serial data on postoperative changes in kidney function were analyzed and compared between the two groups according to the presence of acute kidney injury (AKI). Postoperative AKI was defined as a decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of >50% or an increase in the serum creatinine level of ≥0.3 mg/dL at 1 week after surgery compared with perioperative levels. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was defined as an eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² present for 3 months.

Results

Nineteen patients (25.7%) had postoperative AKI. Patients who experienced postoperative AKI had higher aldosterone-to-renin ratios, higher rates of dyslipidemia, and more left ventricular hypertrophy than did patients without postoperative AKI (p=0.015, 0.036, and 0.033, respectively). Twenty-eight patients (37.8%) had CKD at 6 months after surgery, including 15 patients who had newly progressed to CKD postoperatively. In the multivariate regression analysis of patients without preoperative CKD, the only independent predictor of the progression to CKD was preoperative albuminuria (p=0.007).

Conclusions

In this study, one-quarter of the patients had postoperative AKI after unilateral adrenalectomy for the treatment of PA. However, postoperative AKI was not directly correlated with CKD progression. Preoperative albuminuria was an independent predictor of the progression of CKD.

Clinical characteristics and thyroid hormone dynamics of thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas at a single institution

PURPOSE

Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas (TSPA) are extremely rare pituitary adenomas; their perioperative thyroid hormone dynamics have not been completely elucidated. Here, we investigated the clinical characteristics, perioperative findings, and thyroid hormone dynamics of TSPA at a single institution.

METHODS

We enrolled 11 patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for TSPA during 2005-2019 at Hiroshima University Hospital (TSPA group) and 24 patients who underwent TSS for nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) in 2019 (NFPA group; for comparison). Their clinical characteristics, operative findings, and thyroid hormone dynamics, including serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxine (FT4), were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

The NFPA group demonstrated a slight temporary decrease in serum TSH/ FT3/ FT4 levels on day 1 postoperatively and improvement in the levels on day 4 postoperatively. In contrast, the serum TSH level in the TSPA group demonstrated a marked decrease on day 1 postoperatively but improved on day 7 postoperatively. The serum FT3 level was also markedly decreased on day 1 postoperatively but remained within the normal range. The serum FT4 level revealed a gradual decrease until day 21 postoperatively and then recovered within the normal range 3 months postoperatively. There was no significant difference in the frequency of decline in serum FT4 level between the two groups; no patients required thyroid hormonal replacement 3 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a variable degree of transient hypothyroidism, all patients had a normal thyroid function after 3 months follow-up.

Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas : Single Institutional Experience of 14 Consecutive Cases

OBJECTIVE

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenoma (PA) is an extremely rare functioning form of PA that accounts for 0.7-2% of all such cases. The previously reported outcomes of the surgical removal of TSH-PA are poor. Owing to its extremely low incidence, most available reports on TSH-PA are case reports or small case series. Thus, we investigated the clinical and endocrinological outcomes of surgically treated TSH-PA through our institutional series.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 14 consecutive cases of surgically treated TSH-PA, focusing on the clinical, radiological, surgical, and endocrinological data.

RESULTS

There were seven male (50%) and seven female (50%) patients. The mean age was 42.5 years (range, 19-63). The mean tumor size was 16.6 mm (range, 4-30). Optic chiasm compression was noted in six patients (42.9%), and no patient showed cavernous sinus invasion. Thirteen of 14 patients (92.8%) underwent transnasal transsphenoidal approach (TSA), and one patient underwent TSA followed by transcranial approach for residual tumor removal. Thirteen of 14 patients (92.8%) showed endocrinological remission; all patients who experienced remission showed subnormal levels of TSH (<0.4 μU/mL) on postoperative day 2. Recurrence occurred in two patients (14.2%). One patient underwent subsequent revision transnasal TSA for recurrent tumor removal, and the other patient underwent gamma knife radiosurgery for recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Surgical treatment showed excellent surgical outcomes. The TSH level in the immediate postoperative period may be a predictor for endocrinological remission.

Comparison of the French and CARDS classifications for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis: reliability and validity

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare the reliability and validity of the CARDS and French classification systems for lumbar DS.

METHODS

Between May 2013 and December 2016, 158 consecutive patients diagnosed with single-level lumbar DS were included in this study, and all underwent lumbar fusion. All patients underwent long-cassette standing anterioposterior and lateral radiographs of the spine preoperatively and postoperatively. The images were graded according to the CARDS and French classification systems by two orthopedic spinal surgeons and two orthopedic spinal fellows, independently. Clinical outcome measures used were the visual analog scale, Oswestry Disability Index, and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. Clinical data were collected before surgery and 1 year after surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 146 patients were finally included in this study and followed up for at least 1 year. When grading using the CARDS system, the κ values for inter- and intraobserver reliability were 0.837 and 0.869, respectively, representing perfect agreement. The interobserver κ value for the French classification was 0.693 and the intraobserver κ value was 0.743, both representing substantial agreement. CARDS Type D patients have higher preoperative back pain scores and better improvement after surgery compared with non-Type D patients. Mean back and leg pain was worse in French Type 5 patients, while the most significant improvement was also seen in Type 5 patients after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Both CARDS and French classification systems have acceptable reliability and validity. The CARDS system is easier to utilize and has better reliability.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Decompression Versus Fusion for Grade I Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: A Meta-Analysis

STUDY DESIGN

Meta-analysis of evidence level I to IV studies.

OBJECTIVE

To compare decompression alone versus decompression plus fusion in the treatment of grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS).

METHODS

Following established guidelines, we systematically reviewed 3 electronic databases to assess studies evaluating patients with grade I DS. We stratified all patients into 2 cohorts; the first cohort underwent a decompression-type surgery, and the second cohort underwent decompression plus fusion. We noted clinical outcomes, complications, reoperations, and surgical details such as blood loss. Descriptive statistics and random-effects models were used to determine the specified outcome metrics with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

In both cohorts, the pain (legs and lower back) significantly decreased and the physical component of the Short Form 36 showed better patient clinical outcomes. The decompression cohort had a 5.8% complication rate (95% CI = 1.7-2.1), and the decompression plus fusion cohort had an 8.3% complication rate (95% CI = 5.5-11.6). The reoperation rate was higher in the decompression-only cohort (8.5%; 95% CI = 2.9-17.0) compared with the decompression plus fusion cohort (4.9%; 95% CI = 2.5-7.9).

CONCLUSIONS

There does not appear to be any advantage of one procedure over the other. Patients undergoing decompression alone tended to be older with a higher percentage of leg pain, whereas patients additionally undergoing fusion tended to be younger with more lower back pain. The decompression-only cohort had fewer complications but a higher revision rate.

Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis of postoperative outcomes and management

PURPOSE

TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas are rare pituitary tumors. An efficient treatment is essential to limit the mortality and morbidity in untreated patients. The aim of this study is to summarize the evidence about the postoperative outcomes and management of this rare pathology.

METHODS

A systematic search and meta-analysis of surgical series was performed.

RESULTS

Our analysis included 23 articles (536 patients). No sex difference was observed and mean age at diagnosis was 45 years. Hyperthyroidism was reportedly clinical in 67% and biochemical in 90% of patients. Co-secretion of other pituitary hormones was present in 42% of cases. Macroadenomas were found in 79% of patients, showing in 44% and 30% of cases respectively extrasellar extension and cavernous sinus invasion. The pooled rate of postoperative biochemical remission was 69.7% and a gross total resection (GTR) was observed in 54% of patients. The extent of resection was significantly increased in microadenomas (p < 0.001) and cavernous sinus invasion was predictive of lower GTR rate (p < 0.001). A biochemical remission was achieved in 66% of patients after adjuvant radiation therapy and in 76% after adjuvant medical treatment. The combination of both allowed remission in 67% of cases. At final follow-up the overall biochemical remission rate was significantly improved (85.8%) when compared to the postoperative biochemical remission (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

When compared to the early postoperative period, at last follow-up biochemical remission was significantly greater (p < 0.001). GTR was achieved in half of patients; the size of tumor and cavernous sinus invasion determined the extent of resection.

Giant pituitary adenoma: histological types, clinical features and therapeutic approaches

Giant pituitary adenomas comprise about 6-10% of all pituitary tumors. They are mostly clinically non-functioning adenomas and occur predominantly in males. The presenting symptoms are usually secondary to compression of neighboring structures, but also due to partial or total hypopituitarism. Functioning adenomas give rise to specific symptoms of hormonal hypersecretion. The use of dopamine agonists is considered a first-line treatment in patients with giant macroprolactinomas. Somatostatin analogs can also be used as primary treatment in cases of growth hormone and thyrotropin producing giant adenomas, although remission of the disease is not achieved in the vast majority of these patients. Neurosurgical treatment, either through transsphenoidal or transcranial surgery, continues to be the treatment of choice in the majority of patients with giant pituitary adenomas. The intrinsic complexity of these tumors requires the use of different therapies in a combined or sequential way. A multimodal approach and a therapeutic strategy involving a multidisciplinary team of expert professionals form the basis of the therapeutic success in these patients.

Is it really possible to predict the consistency of a pituitary adenoma preoperatively?

OBJECTIVES

To determine if the consistency of pituitary adenomas can be predicted based on a preoperative MRI study and to assess the surgical outcome of firm pituitary adenomas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred consecutive patients with pituitary adenomas and suprasellar extension were operated by a transsphenoidal approach from July 2003 to December 2006. In addition to the neurological examination, the patients were evaluated by ophthalmological, endocrinological and radiological workups. The signal intensity of the lesion on T2WI and other dimensions of the tumors were included in the MRI study.

RESULTS

There were 52 male and 48 female patients with a mean age of 42.47 years. The mean diameter of the tumor was 32.97mm and the mean SSE was 14.95mm. Six out of 100 patients had firm adenomas peroperatively. Only one of the six patients had isointense SI on T2 WI. Of these 6 patients, total excision was performed in 1 patient, subtotal in 3 patients and partial excision in 2 patients. Among the six patients with firm adenomas, 4 had preoperative hypopituitarism (P<0.001). There was a statistically significant correlation between consistency and the postoperative permanent hypopituitarism (P<0.001). The average follow up was 43.5 months. The literature is reviewed and various aspects of pituitary adenoma consistency are discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

With the present study, the consistency of pituitary adenomas cannot be reliably predicted based on a preoperative MRI study. Patients with firm adenomas likely to have more incidence of preoperative hypopituitarism and postoperative permanent hypopituitarism.

DIAGNOSIS OF ENDOCRINE DISEASE: Diagnostic approach to TSH-producing pituitary adenoma

Thyrotropin (TSH)-secreting adenomas (TSHomas) are the rarest form of pituitary adenomas, and most endocrinologists will see few cases in a lifetime, if any. In most cases, the diagnostic approach is complicated and cases may be referred after being presented as a syndrome of inappropriate TSH secretion or as a pituitary mass. This review aims to cover the past, present and possible future diagnostic approaches to TSHomas, including different clinical presentations, laboratory assessment and imaging advances. The differential diagnoses will be discussed, as well as possible coexisting disorders. By evaluating the existing reports and reviews describing this rare condition, this review aims to present a clinically practical suggestion on the diagnosic workup for TSHomas, Major advances and scientific breakthroughs in the imaging area in recent years, facilitating diagnosis of TSHomas, support the belief that future progress within the imaging field will play an important role in providing methods for a more efficient diagnosis of this rare condition.

Surgical treatment and outcome of TSH-producing pituitary adenomas

BACKGROUND

Thyrotropin-producing adenomas (TSHomas) account for approximately 1-2% of all pituitary tumors. Recently, there has been debate on primary treatment as some studies suggest a high rate of hypopituitarism after transsphenoidal surgery and therefore suggest primary use of somatostatin analogs (SSA) instead. We would like to challenge this assumption by presenting our single-center experience with transsphenoidal surgery for TSHoma.

METHODS

Fifteen patients treated consecutively between May 2010 and December 2016 were analyzed for long-term postoperative remission and pituitary function.

RESULTS

Data on the development of TSH, fT3 and fT4 were available for 12 of 15 patients (mean follow-up was 18 months, 8 patients >12 months), showing mean TSH levels of 1.289 mU/l (0.02-2.04, SD 0.66), mean fT3 levels of 3.76 pmol/l (0.5-6.16, SD 1.8) and mean fT4 levels of 16.5 pmol/l (11.7-21.9, SD 3.66). Six of those patients were substituted with a mean of 85.4 μg L-thyroxine after a median follow-up of 20.7 months. The other six patients did not receive L-thyroxine at a median follow-up of 15.5 months. One patient with a known tumor remnant on MRI stayed euthyreotic with cabergoline at the timepoint of follow-up 22 months after the operation. Control of the corticotrop axis was also available in 12 of 15 with no patient showing a corticotroph insufficiency in the long term.

CONCLUSIONS

We argue that transsphenoidal surgery for TSHoma should be considered as the treatment of choice as remission following surgery is highly probable and postoperative hypopituitarism is very unlikely if patients are referred to centers with high pituitary surgery case loads.

Facet Effusion without Radiographic Instability Has No Effect on the Outcome of Minimally Invasive Decompression Surgery

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

Lumbar segmental instability is a key factor determining whether decompression alone or decompression and fusion surgery is required to treat lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Some recent reports have suggested that facet joint effusion is correlated with spinal segmental instability. The aim of this study is to report the effect of facet effusion without radiographic segmental instability on the outcome of less-invasive decompression surgery for LSS.

METHODS

Seventy-nine patients with LSS (32 women, mean age: 69.1 ± 9.1 years) who had no segmental instability on dynamic radiographs before undergoing L4-L5 microsurgical decompression and who were followed for at least 2 years postoperatively were analyzed. They were divided into three groups on the basis of the existence and size of L4-L5 facet effusion using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging: grade 0 had no effusion (n = 31), grade 1 had measurable effusion (n = 35), and grade 2 had large effusion (n = 13). Japanese Orthopedics Association (JOA) score, visual analog scale (VAS), and the Short-Form (SF)-36 scores were recorded preoperatively and 12 and 24 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

JOA score; VAS of low back pain, leg pain, and numbness; and SF-36 (physical component summary and mental component summary) scores did not differ significantly between the three groups in every terms (p = 0.921, 0.996, 0.950, 0.693, 0.374, 0.304, and 0.624, respectively, at final follow-up).

CONCLUSION

In the absence of radiographic instability, facet joint effusion has no effect on the outcome of less-invasive decompression surgery.

Ectopic Suprasellar Thyrotropin-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma: Case Report and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Ectopic thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenomas are rare and can often be misdiagnosed as primary hyperthyroidism. We present a case of an ectopic suprasellar TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma. A literature review of previously reported ectopic TSH-secreting and suprasellar pituitary adenomas is included to illustrate the clinical characteristics of this disease entity and the diversity of operative approaches to treating ectopic suprasellar pituitary adenomas.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 46-year-old man presented with typical clinical signs of hyperthyroidism and a history of progressive visual field impairment and vision loss. Laboratory investigations revealed that the patient had elevated levels of free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine and a normal level of TSH. Neuro-ophthalmologic examination showed right eye/left eye = 1.0/0.6 and left temporal hemianopia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass located in the suprasellar space. The patient underwent preoperative short-term octreotide treatment followed by gross total resection of the tumor via the extended endoscopic endonasal transtuberculum sellar approach. At 6-month follow-up evaluation, the patient's endocrinologic function tests met the criteria for cure, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a normal pituitary gland and stalk with no tumor recurrence. Histologic diagnosis confirmed the presence of a TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an ectopic suprasellar TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma. Preoperative preparation and complete resection are the keys to a cure. The extended endoscopic endonasal transtuberculum sellar approach is an alternative minimally invasive method for the removal of an ectopic suprasellar pituitary adenoma.

Neurogenic claudication secondary to degenerative spondylolisthesis: is fusion always necessary?

OBJECTIVE

This study examines the efficacy and long-term safety of a midline sparing decompression for patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS). We specifically looked at the rate of re-operation with a lumbar fusion. Of the patients that did require a secondary fusion procedure, we examined retrospectively any risk factors (both clinical and radiological) that could have been identified pre-operatively to predict the necessity of a primary fusion procedure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data was collected prospectively within a single surgeon practice at our institution. All patients had a diagnosis of neurogenic claudication secondary to DS. Radiological and clinical risk factors that could have predicted the requirement of a fusion procedure were retrospectively analysed.

RESULTS

This is a study of 70 patients (46F:24M). The median age at surgery was 68 years. All patients had a diagnosis of neurogenic claudication and were treated with a mid-line sparing decompression. Following the primary procedure, patients' VAS and ODI scores for both leg and back pain improved significantly both at short-term follow-up (mean seven months) and sustained at long-term follow-up (range 16-57 months, mean 33 months; p < 0.0001 Wilcoxon matched pair ranks). Eight (11%) patients had symptom progression and required a further fusion procedure. We found that if on the pre-operative MRI, the patient had a facet joint angle of greater than 60°, and a preserved disc height (greater than 7 mm) this would increase the likelihood of the requirement for fusion. Of the patients that required a secondary fusion procedure, 6/8 patients (75%) had sagittal facets, hyperlordosis and a preserved disc height pre-operatively.

CONCLUSIONS

A primary decompression using a midline sparing osteotomy is an effective procedure for the treatment of neurogenic claudication caused by DS. The second message is that on inspection of the pre-operative imaging, sagittally placed facet joints, a hyperlordosis and a preserved disc height then a fusion procedure should be considered primarily.

Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas: epidemiology, diagnosis, and management

Inappropriate secretion of TSH was first described in 1960 in a patient with evidence of hyperthyroidism and expanded sella on imaging. It was later found that a type of pituitary adenoma that secretes TSH (thyrotropinoma) was the underlying cause. The objective of the present review article is to summarize data on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of thyrotropinomas. The prevalence of thyrotropinomas is lower than that of other pituitary adenomas. Early diagnosis is now possible thanks to the availability of magnetic resonance imaging and sensitive laboratory assays. As a corollary, many patients now present earlier in the course of their disease and have smaller tumors at the time of diagnosis. Treatment also has evolved over time. Transsphenoidal surgery is still considered definitive therapy. Meanwhile, radiation therapy, including radiosurgery, is effective in achieving tumor control in the majority of patients. In the past, radiation therapy was used as second line treatment in patients with residual or recurrent tumor after surgery. However, the availability of somatostatin analogs, which can lead to normalization of thyroid function as well as shrink these tumors, has led to an increase in the role of medical therapy in patients who are not in remission after pituitary surgery. In addition, dopamine agonists have shown some efficacy in the management of these tumors. Better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of thyrotropinomas may lead to rationally designed therapies for patients with thyrotropinomas.

Outcomes in cases of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis more than 5 years after treatment with minimally invasive decompression: examination of pre- and postoperative slippage, intervertebral disc changes, and clinical results

OBJECT

There are reports that fusion is the standard treatment of choice for cases of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (LDS) associated with lumbar spinal canal stenosis with a large degree of slippage. The reasons why, however, have not been clarified. On the other hand, it is known that the progress of slippage decreases and restabilization occurs over the natural course of LDS. Therefore, if minimally invasive decompression could be performed, there would be little possibility of it influencing the natural course of LDS, so it would not be necessary to include preoperative percentage slip in the criteria for the selection of fusion. This study examined the course of LDS cases more than 5 years after treatment with minimally invasive decompression to determine whether pre- and postoperative slippage and disc changes influence the clinical results.

METHODS

A total of 51 intervertebral segments in 51 cases with the chief complaint of radicular or cauda equina symptoms due to lumbar spinal canal stenosis were examined after prospective treatment with minimally invasive decompression for LDS. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 66.7 years and the mean follow-up period was 7 years 4 months. Minimally invasive decompression was performed regardless of the degree of low-back pain or percentage slip. The outcome variables were clinical results and changes in imaging findings.

RESULTS

Over the follow-up period, postoperative percentage slip increased and disc height decreased, but the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score improved. Regardless of the preoperative percentage slip, disc height, or degree of intervertebral disc degeneration or segmental instability, the clinical results were favorable. In the high preoperative percentage slip group, low disc height group, and progressive disc degeneration group, there was little postoperative progress of slippage. In the group with a postoperative slippage increase of more than 5%, slippage increased significantly at postoperative year 2, but no significant difference was observed at the final follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

When minimally invasive decompression was performed to treat LDS, the postoperative change in slippage was no different from that during the natural course. Furthermore, regardless of the degree of preoperative slippage or intervertebral disc degeneration, the clinical results were favorable. Also, the higher the preoperative percentage slip and the more that disc degeneration progressed, the more the progress of postoperative slippage decreased. Because the postoperative progress of slippage decreased, it is believed that even after minimally invasive decompression, restabilization occurs as it would during the natural course. If minimally invasive decompression can be performed to treat LDS, it is believed that preoperative percentage slip and intervertebral disc degeneration do not have to be included in the appropriateness criteria for fusion.

Clinical outcome and evidence of high rate post-surgical anterior hypopituitarism in a cohort of TSH-secreting adenoma patients: Might somatostatin analogs have a role as first-line therapy?

PURPOSE

Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas (TSHomas) represent a rare subtype of pituitary tumors. Neurosurgery (NCH) is still considered the first-line therapy. In this study we aimed to investigate the outcome of different treatment modalities, including first line somatostatin analogs (SSA) treatment, with a specific focus on neurosurgery-related complications.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated thirteen patients diagnosed for TSHomas (9 M; age range 27-61). Ten patients had a magnetic resonance evidence of macroadenoma, three with slight visual field impairment. In the majority of patients, thyroid ultrasonography showed the presence of goiter and/or increased gland vascularization. Median TSH value at diagnosis was 3.29 mU/L (normal ranges 0.2-4.2 mIU/L), with median fT4 2.52 ng/dL (0.9-1.7 ng/dL).

RESULTS

Three patients (two microadenoma) were primarily treated with NCH and achieved disease remission, whereas ten patients (nine macroadenomas) were initially treated with SSA. Despite the optimal biochemical response observed during medical treatment in most patients (mean TSH decrease -72%), only two stayed on medical therapy alone, achieving stable biochemical control at the end of the follow-up. The remaining patients (n = 7) underwent NCH later on during their clinical history, followed by radiotherapy or adjuvant SSA treatment in two cases. Noteworthy, five of them developed hypopituitarism. All patients reached a biochemical control, after a multimodal therapeutic approach.

CONCLUSIONS

Neurosurgery ultimately led to complete disease remission or to biochemical control in majority of patients, whereas resulting in a considerable percentage of post-operative complications (mainly hypopituitarism, 50%). In the light of the optimal results unanimously reported for medical treatment with SSA, our experience suggests that a careful evaluation of risk/benefit ratio should be taken into consideration when directing the treatment approach in patients with TSHoma.

Defining the inherent stability of degenerative spondylolisthesis: a systematic review

OBJECT A range of surgical options exists for the treatment of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS). The chosen technique inherently depends on the stability of the DLS. Despite a substantial body of literature dedicated to the outcome analysis of numerous DLS procedures, no consensus has been reached on defining or classifying the disorder with respect to stability or the role that instability should play in a treatment algorithm. The purpose of this study was to define grades of stability and to develop a guide for deciding on the optimal approach in surgically managing patients with DLS. METHODS The authors conducted a qualitative systematic review of clinical or biomechanical analyses evaluating the stability of and surgical outcomes for DLS for the period from 1990 to 2013. Research focused on nondegenerative forms of spondylolisthesis or spinal stenosis without associated DLS was excluded. The primary extracted results were clinical and radiographic parameters indicative of DLS instability. RESULTS The following preoperative parameters are predictors of stability in DLS: restabilization signs (disc height loss, osteophyte formation, vertebral endplate sclerosis, and ligament ossification), no disc angle change or less than 3 mm of translation on dynamic radiographs, and the absence of low-back pain. The validity and magnitude of each parameter's contribution can only be determined through appropriately powered prospective evaluation in the future. Identifying these parameters has allowed for the creation of a preliminary DLS instability classification (DSIC) scheme based on the preoperative assessment of DLS stability. CONCLUSIONS Spinal stability is an important factor to consider in the evaluation and treatment of patients with DLS. Qualitative assessment of the best available evidence revealed clinical and radiographic parameters for the creation of the DSIC, a decision aid to help surgeons develop a method of preoperative evaluation to better stratify DLS treatment options.

Seven years follow-up for total lumbar facet joint replacement (TOPS) in the management of lumbar spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the feasibility and clinical improvement of a total posterior arthroplasty system in the surgical management of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis and or spinal stenosis.

METHODS

During a 1-year period (June 2006 to July 2007), ten patients were enrolled in a non-randomized prospective clinical study. The primary indication was neurogenic claudication due to spinal stenosis with single-level degenerative spondylolisthesis. Patients were evaluated with X-rays and MRI scans, visual analog scale (VAS) for back and leg pain, the Oswestry disability questionnaire, and the SF-36 health survey preoperatively, at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months and at 1, 2, 3 and 7 years postoperatively.

RESULTS

The VAS score for back pain dropped from 56.2 preoperatively to 12.5 at 6 weeks and 19 at 7 years follow-up. The VAS score for worse leg pain dropped from 83.5 before surgery to 13 at 6 weeks and 8.8 at 7 years follow-up. The ODI dropped from 49.1 preoperatively to 13.5 at 6 weeks and 7.8 at 7 years follow-up. MRI examination at 7 years after surgery did not demonstrate stenosis adjacent to the stabilized segment. Spondylolisthesis did not progress in any of the cases. One patient had a symptomatic L3-L4 far lateral disc herniation 5 years after surgery whose symptoms resolved with non-operative treatment. In one patient, conversion to posterolateral fusion was performed due to an early device malfunction.

CONCLUSION

In patients with spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis, decompression and posterior arthroplasty with the TOPS System can maintain clinical improvement and radiologic stability over time.

Lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis is not always unstable: clinicobiomechanical evidence

STUDY DESIGN

A clinicobiomechanical study.

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the clinicobiomechanical characteristics of a segment with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (LDS) using an original intraoperative measurement system.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Although radiographical evaluation of LDS is extensively performed, the diagnosis of segmental instability remains controversial. The intraoperative measurement system used in this study is the first clinically available system that performs cyclic flexion-extension displacement of the segment with all ligamentous structures intact and can determine both the stiffness (N/mm) and neutral zone (NZ, [mm/N]).

METHODS

Forty-eight patients with LDS (males/females = 19/29, 68.5 yr; group D) were compared with 48 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis without LDS (males/females = 33/15, 64.8 yr, group N) in terms of symptoms, radiological, and biomechanical results. Instability was defined as a segment with NZ more than 2 mm. Symptoms (36-Item Short Form Health Survey), radiographical findings (radiographs, magnetic resonance images, computed tomographic scans), stiffness, NZ, and frequency of instability were also compared. Risk factors for instability were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression with a forward stepwise procedure.

RESULTS

None of the physical function categories or radiological findings of 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and low back pain (visual analogue scale) differed significantly between the groups. Although NZ was significantly greater in group D (1.97) than in group N (1.73) (P < 0.05), the frequency of instability did not differ significantly between groups. Facet opening (odds ratio, 11.0; P < 0.01) and facet type (odds ratio, 6.0; P < 0.05) were significant risk factors for instability.

CONCLUSION

Neither the symptoms nor the frequency of instability differed significantly between groups. The radiological findings of spondylolisthesis did not indicate instability, but facet opening and sagittally oriented facets were indicative of instability. The results of this study demonstrated that LDS is not always unstable in the measurement setting, suggesting that the instability of LDS can stabilize spontaneously during the natural course.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

N/A.

Evaluation and management of thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas

Thyrotropin (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenomas are uncommon pituitary neoplasms. They have been increasingly recognized with the advent of ultrasensitive TSH assays and advanced pituitary imaging. Clinically, patients may often present with signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Some patients may present with tumor-related local mass effect, anterior hypopituitarism or syndromes related to co-secretion of other pituitary hormones. Their diagnosis and differential diagnosis from other causes of hyperthyroidism and ‘inappropriate TSH secretion’ often presents a clinical challenge. While trans-sphenoidal pituitary adenomectomy remains the therapeutic modality of choice, medical treatment with somatostatin receptor agonists or dopamine agonists is often needed as adjunctive therapy or perhaps as a potential alternative to surgery. Radiation therapy to the sella may be advised as a third-line therapy.

Clinical outcomes after microendoscopic laminotomy for lumbar spinal stenosis: a 5-year follow-up study

PURPOSE

To prospectively investigate the long-term clinical outcomes of microendoscopic laminotomy (MEL) in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) with and without degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS).

METHODS

In total, 159 patients (mean age, 68 years) who had undergone MEL for single-level LSS at L4/5 at our institute were recruited and followed-up for 5 years. Patients with and without DS were assigned to the DS (n = 71) and control (n = 88) groups, respectively. In addition to slippage rate, Japanese orthopedic association (JOA), recovery rate, short-form 36 (SF-36), and Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RDQ) values were evaluated preoperatively and 5 years postoperatively. All parameters were analyzed by Student's t test, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Of 159 patients, 12 were lost to follow-up (follow-up rate, 92.5%); moreover, 15 patients were excluded because of death, cerebral infarction, dementia, or terminal cancer. Thus, 132 patients (DS group: 61, control group: 71) were finally examined. No significant differences were found in preoperative JOA, JOA recovery rate, RDQ, and SF-36 values between groups. The slippage rate in the DS group was 18.1% preoperatively and 16.8% at 5 years postoperatively (p > 0.05). There was no significant increase in instability in those with DS following MEL. Progressive spinal instability was noted in six patients (9.8%) and five patients (7.0 %) in the DS and control groups, respectively (p > 0.05). Moreover, the success rate of MEL was good/excellent in 70%, fair in 20%, and poor in 10 % of patients in both groups.

CONCLUSION

MEL showed similar outcomes in patients with DS and in those without DS.

Clinicopathological characteristics and therapeutic outcomes in thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas: a single-center study of 90 cases

OBJECT

The aim of this study was to analyze clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes in a large single-center clinical series of cases of thyrotropin (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenomas.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed clinical, pathological, and treatment characteristics of 90 consecutive cases of TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas treated with transsphenoidal surgery between December 1991 and May 2013. The patient group included 47 females and 43 males (median age 42 years, range 11-74 years).

RESULTS

Sixteen tumors (18%) were microadenomas and 74 (82%) were macroadenomas. Microadenomas were significantly more frequent in the more recent half of our case series (12 of 45 cases) (p = 0.0274). Cavernous sinus invasion was confirmed in 21 patients (23%). In 67 cases (74%), the tumors were firm elastic or hard in consistency. Acromegaly and hyperprolactinemia were observed, respectively, in 14 (16%) and 11 (12%) of the 90 cases. Euthyroidism was achieved in 40 (83%) of 48 patients and tumor shrinkage was found in 24 (55%) of 44 patients following preoperative somatostatin analog treatment. Conventional transsphenoidal surgery, extended transsphenoidal surgery, and a simultaneous combined supra- and infrasellar approach were performed in 85, 2, and 3 patients, respectively. Total removal with endocrinological remission was achieved in 76 (84%) of 90 patients, including all 16 (100%) patients with microadenomas, 60 (81%) of the 74 with macroadenomas, and 8 (38%) of the 21 with cavernous sinus invasion. None of these 76 patients experienced tumor recurrence during a median follow-up period of 2.8 years. Stratifying by Knosp grade, total removal with endocrinological remission was achieved in 34 of 36 patients with Knosp Grade 0 tumors, all 24 of those with Grade 1 tumors, 12 of the 14 with Grade 2 tumors, 6 of the 8 with Grade 3 tumors, and none of the 8 with Grade 4 tumors. Cavernous sinus invasion and tumor size were significant independent predictors of surgical outcome. Immunoreactivity for growth hormone, prolactin, or both hormones was present in 32, 9, and 24 patients, respectively. The Ki-67 labeling index was less than 3% in 71 (97%) of 73 tumors for which it was obtained and 3% or more in 2. Postsurgery pituitary dysfunction was found in 15 patients (17%) and delayed hyponatremia was seen in 9.

CONCLUSIONS

TSH-secreting adenomas, particularly those in the microadenoma stage, have increased in frequency over the past 5 years. The high surgical success rate achieved in this series is due to relatively early diagnosis and relatively small tumor size. In addition, the surgical strategies used, such as extracapsular removal of hard or solid adenomas, aggressive resction of tumors with cavernous sinus invasion, or extended transsphenoidal surgery or a simultaneous combined approach for large/giant multilobulated adenomas, also may improve remission rate with a minimal incidence of complications.

Degenerative spondylolisthesis does not affect the outcome of unilateral laminotomy with bilateral decompression in patients with lumbar stenosis

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective subcohort study.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether preoperative presence of degenerative spondylolisthesis worsens the outcome of patients undergoing unilateral laminotomy with bilateral decompression for lumbar stenosis.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

The standard surgical treatment for degenerative spondylolisthesis with lumbar stenosis is lumbar fusion after standard laminectomy. Although this strategy is widely adopted, it is not supported by class I evidence. This strategy assumes that degenerative spondylolisthesis worsens the outcome of laminectomy by causing postoperative instability. However, instability may be reduced or prevented by the use of less invasive decompression techniques.

METHODS

To test the hypothesis that preoperative degenerative spondylolisthesis worsens the outcome of less invasive lumbar decompression, we performed a prospective cohort study of 165 consecutive patients who underwent unilateral laminotomy with bilateral decompression at our institution. The patients were prospectively followed with a standardized questionnaire, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, and standing lumbar radiographs for a maximum follow-up period of 5 years. According to the presence or absence of degenerative spondylolisthesis, the patients were divided into 2 groups: an olisthesis group and a nonolisthesis group.

RESULTS

The average 36-Item Short Form Health Survey physical score and bodily pain score improved substantially immediately after surgery. This improvement was maintained up to 5 years postoperatively. Progression of slippage was uncommon in both groups, with an overall incidence of 8% at 5 years of follow-up. There was no significant difference in the average physical score, the bodily pain score, or the rate of progression of slippage between the olisthesis and nonolisthesis groups.

CONCLUSION

Our study thus indicates that preoperative degenerative spondylolisthesis does not worsen the outcome of patients with lumbar stenosis undergoing unilateral laminotomy with bilateral decompression. These results suggest that lumbar fusion is often unnecessary in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis and lumbar stenosis if the posterior decompression technique is unilateral laminotomy with bilateral decompression.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

2.

A long-term follow-up study of eighteen patients with thyrotrophin-secreting pituitary adenomas

OBJECTIVE

TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas (TSH-omas) are a rare cause of thyrotoxicosis. First-line therapy for these tumours is neurosurgery, although medical therapy with somatostatin analogues (SSAs) is increasingly used for this indication.

DESIGN AND PATIENTS

We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients with a TSH-oma (n = 18, 67% males) followed between 1989 and 2011 (median follow-up 7 years, range 1-21) in three academic medical centres in the Netherlands, focusing on the role of SSA treatment.

MEASUREMENTS

Patient records were reviewed for clinical, biochemical, imaging, pathological and treatment characteristics.

RESULTS

At initial evaluation, biochemical hyperthyroidism with non-suppressed TSH concentrations was detected in 94% of the patients. The majority of patients (72%) had a macroadenoma with extrasellar extension. Fourteen patients underwent surgery, resulting in postoperative euthyroidism in six patients (43%). Recurrence of hyperthyroidism developed in three of them after 5, 24 and 32 months, respectively. Adjuvant radiotherapy (n = 2) did not induce remission. Three patients received SSA therapy exclusively, resulting in apparent cure in one of them. During long-term follow-up, 72% of all patients required medical therapy (mostly SSA treatment). Euthyroidism was achieved in all but one patient, who refused all treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that patients with TSH-omas, who often present with large macroadenomas with extrasellar extension, have an excellent response to SSA therapy. Because the results of surgery and radiotherapy are disappointing, primary medical therapy may be considered in virtually all patients, except in case of optic chiasm compression, especially in those harbouring large adenomas with parasellar extension.

Thyroid storm induced by TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma: a case report

Thyroid stimulating hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas (TSHomas) are uncommon tumors of the anterior pituitary gland. Patients with TSHomas may present with hyperthyroidism, but the incidence of thyroid storm due to TSHomas has yet to be determined. We report a rare case of thyroid storm caused by TSHoma in a 54-year-old woman. Preoperatively she had symptoms of excessive sweating and palpitation. Blood tests showed inappropriate secretion of TSH with blood TSH 6.86 μ U/mL, fT3 19.8 pg/mL, and fT4 5.95 ng/dL. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a pituitary tumor with maximum diameter of 13 mm that was extirpated through transsphenoidal route. After operation the patient was stuporous and thyroid storm occurred presenting with hyperthermia, hypertension, and tachycardia. It was well managed with nicardipine, midazolam, steroids, and potassium iodide. Immunohistochemical staining of tumor specimen was positive for TSH and growth hormone (GH). One year after operation, fT3 and fT4 levels were still high. As her tumor was diagnosed to be GH- and TSH-producing adenoma, octreotide injection therapy was started, which normalized thyroid hormone levels. This is the second reported case with thyroid storm due to TSHoma and emphasizes the importance of strategies with interdisciplinary cooperation for prevention of such emergency conditions.

An in vitro model of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis

STUDY DESIGN

A biomechanical human cadaveric study.

OBJECTIVE

To create a biomechanical model of low-grade degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS), defined by anterior listhesis, for future testing of spinal instrumentation.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Current spinal implants are used to treat a multitude of conditions that range from herniated discs to degenerative diseases. The optimal stiffness of these instrumentation systems for each specific spinal condition is unknown. Ex vivo models representing degenerative spinal conditions are scarce in the literature. A model of DLS for implant testing will enhance our understanding of implant-spine behavior for specific populations of patients.

METHODS

Four incremental surgical destabilizations were performed on 8 lumbar functional spinal units. The facet complex and intervertebral disc were targeted to represent the tissue changes associated with DLS. After each destabilization, the specimen was tested with: (1) applied shear force (-50 to 250 N) with a constant axial compression force (300 N) and (2) applied pure moments in flexion-extension, lateral bending and axial rotation (±5 Nm). Relative motion between the 2 vertebrae was tracked with a motion capture system. The effect of specimen condition on intervertebral motion was assessed for shear and flexibility testing.

RESULTS

Shear translation increased, specimen stiffness decreased and range of motion increased with specimen destabilization (P < 0.0002). A mean anterior translation of 3.1 mm (SD 1.1 mm) was achieved only after destabilization of both the facet complex and disc. Of the 5 specimen conditions, 3 were required to achieve grade 1 DLS: (1) intact, (3) a 4-mm facet gap, and (5) a combined nucleus and annulus injury.

CONCLUSION

Destabilization of both the facet complex and disc was required to achieve anterior listhesis of 3.1 mm consistent with a grade 1 DLS under an applied shear force of 250 N. Sufficient listhesis was measured without radical specimen resection. Important anatomical structures for supporting spinal instrumentation were preserved such that this model can be used in future to characterize behavior of novel instrumentation prior to clinical trials.

Management of differentiated thyroid cancer in the presence of resistance to thyroid hormone and TSH-secreting adenomas: a report of four cases and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

An increased or normal serum TSH concentration, despite elevated thyroid hormone levels, is observed in resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) and TSH-secreting adenomas (TSHomas). When coexistent with a differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), maintenance of a suppression of TSH is challenging.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to discuss the pitfalls arising from the failure to suppress TSH secretion in DTC and the strategies for proper treatment of DTC in association with RTH and TSHoma.

METHODS

Four unusual cases of DTC associated with TSHoma (2 cases), RTH (1 case), and an elevated TSH of unknown etiology (1 case) are presented, and the literature is reviewed.

RESULTS

Although a persistent mild TSH elevation may not be a risk factor for the development of DTC, it represents an important problem during the treatment of DTC. Aggressive treatment options should be applied in the proper order to prevent tumor recurrence and persistence in the absence of ideal TSH suppression.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there is no agreed consensus regarding the management of DTC in the presence of persistent hyperthyrotropinemia, complete tumor removal followed by radioablation and attempts to reduce the serum TSH to the lowest tolerable level are recommended. The outcomes in the reported cases have not been unfavorable, despite the persistence of nonsuppressed TSH.

Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas: diagnosis and management of patients from one Chinese center

OBJECTIVES

Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenoma (TSHoma) is rare and it is also a rare cause of thyrotoxicosis. Failure to detect the presence of TSHoma may result in dramatic consequences. This study is a review of our experience in the management of TSHoma at Huashan Hospital, China.

METHODS

We followed up eight patients with TSHoma (five males and three females) between 2006 and 2011. The patients' medical records were retrieved, and the demographic data, clinical presentation and management, final outcomes and follow-up were reviewed, and surgery performed.

RESULTS

All the eight patients had unsuppressed TSH levels with elevated thyroid hormone levels; and neuroimaging revealed pituitary lesions. Five patients (62.5 %) were previously misdiagnosed as primary hyperthyroidism. They received pituitary adenomectomy, somatostatin analogs, and/or radiotherapy after definitive diagnosis. Serum TSH and thyroid hormone levels of all the patients restored to the normal levels during the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Adenomectomy is not curative in many TSHoma patients, it should be adjuvantly treated by pharmacological and/or radiotherapy, frequently. A combination of adenomectomy, somatostatin analogs, and radiotherapy is often required for long-term management of the disease.

Thyrotropin-secreting adenoma in a patient with primary hypothyroidism

OBJECTIVE

To describe a patient who developed a thyrotropin (TSH)-secreting adenoma in the setting of primary hypothyroidism.

METHODS

We report the clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings of a patient with a history of primary hypothyroidism who presented with headache, a bitemporal visual field deficit, and elevated TSH despite long-term levothyroxine therapy. We discuss the diagnostic challenges of this case and review the relevant literature.

RESULTS

A 54 year old woman with a history of primary hypothyroidism presented with a 3-year history of headache and a week of worsening vision. Imaging revealed a heterogeneous sellar mass elevating the optic chiasm. Her serum TSH was 46.5 mIU/L and free thyroxine concentration was 0.1 ng/dL. The differential diagnosis included pituitary hyperplasia and a TSH-secreting adenoma in a patient with primary hypothyroidism. The pathologic characteristics of the tumor were consistent with the latter.

CONCLUSION

In a patient with an elevated TSH concentration and a previous diagnosis of hypothyroidism, it is important to consider other entities besides medication noncompliance. TSH-secreting adenomas can also cause elevated levels of TSH.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (thyrotropin)-secretion pituitary adenoma in an 8-year-old boy: case report

In this report, an extremely rare case of pediatric thyrotropin-secreting pituitary macroadenoma (TSHoma) is described. An 8-year-old boy, complaining of unsteady gait, was suspected of endocrinopathy because of emaciation and muscle weakness of the legs. Endocrinological work-up established a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism due to syndrome of inappropriate secretion of TSH. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a pituitary macroadenoma with suprasellar and sphenoidal extension without cavernous sinus invasion. He underwent an endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal adenomectory due to the diagnosis of TSHoma. The adenoma was soft and it was totally removed. Histopathological staining confirmed diagnosis of TSHoma. Postoperative evaluation revealed a subnormal level of TSH (from 13-21 to 0.03 micro U/ml), normalization of alpha-subunit (from 10.0 to 0.09 ng/ml), and as a result, hypothyroidism. The boy left the hospital with oral levothyroxine that continued until 12 months of discharge. The present 8-year-old case is the youngest case to the best of our knowledge based on a bibliographical search. Reasons for endocrinological remission following adenomectomy are (1) correct diagnosis without delay: lack of cavernous sinus invasion, (2) soft and non-fibrous adenoma tissue, and (3) endoscopic technique with wide vision and illumination: safe even for a 8-year-old child. Early recognition/detection and pituitary-conserving adenomectomy can cure TSHoma and avoid long-term medical therapy and/or irradiation, which contribute to the best interests of patients with TSHoma.

Excess mortality for patients with residual disease following resection of pituitary adenomas

The importance of achieving tumor control in pituitary adenoma surgery is not entirely established. This manuscript reviews the literature linking residual pituitary tumor and hormonal hypersecretion to increases in long term mortality. When possible, we utilized meta-analysis methods to estimate a pooled standardized mortality ratio (SMR), which relates the risk of mortality for a cohort of patients compared to a similar age and gender matched cohort in the general population, for patients with endocrinologic evidence of residual disease. When this was not possible, we review the existing literature in the results and discussion section of this review. We identified 10 articles regarding acromegaly and three articles regarding Cushing's disease which presented SMR data for adult patients undergoing transphenoidal surgery with data divided into subgroups based on post-operative growth hormone levels. Using growth hormone levels of 2.5 μg/l as a cutoff, the mortality rate ratio was 1.83 (95% CI = 1.03-3.24) for patients with persistent acromegaly. Similarly, patients with persistent Cushing's disease experienced a marked increase in mortality rate ratio compared to those experiencing initial cure (mortality rate ratio = 3.25 (95% CI = 1.54-6.84). For other tumor subtypes, (i.e. Endocrine inactive adenomas, Prolactinomas, and TSH secreting tumors) there were not enough studies identified to allow for rigorous statistical analysis. There is an increasing body of data suggesting that treatment refractory acromegaly and Cushing's disease puts patients at risk for early mortality, suggesting that aggressive efforts to normalize hormone levels in these patients are justified.

[Manifestations and prognosis of thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas: a case series of three patients]

INTRODUCTION

Among pituitary adenomas, thyrotropinomas were previously considered as extremely rare and resistant to therapy. However, the common use of the sensitive TSH measurement and the improvement of pituitary imaging have modified their clinical and hormonal presentation.

CASE REPORTS

We here report three cases of TSH secreting pituitary adenoma that highlight the great diversity of the clinical, hormonal and morphological presentation, and their better prognosis. In the presence of an inappropriate TSH secretion, the main differential diagnosis is the syndrome of thyroid hormone resistance. The role of somatostatin analogue prior to the surgical treatment of TSH secreting pituitary adenoma is also underlined in this report.

CONCLUSION

The increasing frequency and early diagnosis of TSH secreting pituitary adenoma may be explained by ultrasensitive methods now used for TSH measurement and progress in pituitary imaging, mainly with MRI. This changing spectrum in the presentation and the excellent response to somatostatin analogues improved in the prognosis of the disease.

Success and failure of minimally invasive decompression for focal lumbar spinal stenosis in patients with and without deformity

STUDY DESIGN

Observational cohort study. Retrospective review of prospectively collected outcomes data.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of minimally invasive (MIS) decompression for focal lumbar spinal stenosis (FLSS) in patients with and without deformity.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

MIS, facet-preserving decompression has the potential of offering a significantly less morbid alternative to decompression and fusion in patients with leg dominant symptoms from degenerative spondylolisthesis and/or scoliosis.

METHODS

Single surgeon, consecutive series (n=75), evaluated over 5 years. All patients had MIS lumbar laminoplasty (bilateral decompression from a unilateral approach) for FLSS (1-2 level). Patients had leg dominant, claudicant/radicular pain. Patients were divided into 4 groups: (A) stenosis with no deformity, n=22; (B) stenosis with spondylolisthesis only, n=25; (C) stenosis with scoliosis, n=16; and (D) stenosis combined with spondylolisthesis and scoliosis, n=12. The primary clinical outcome measures were the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and surgical revision rate. Preoperative and postoperative standing radiographs were assessed.

RESULTS

The average age was 68 years (40-89) with a mean time from surgery of 36.5 months (18-68). Average clinical improvement in ODI was 49.5% to 23.9% [mean postoperative follow-up of 31.8 months (24-72): group A=mean of 34.6; B=28.9; C=32.7; D=30 months]. Incidence of preoperative grade I spondylolisthesis was 46%. Spondylolisthesis progression (mean=8.4%) occurred in 9 patients and 2 patients developed spondylolisthesis. Overall revision rate was 10% [repeat decompression alone (n=2) and decompression and fusion (n=6)]. Subgroup analysis of preoperative and postoperative ODI and revision rate revealed (A) 48% to 18.7%, 0%; (B) 48% to 24.6%, 4%; (C) 50.7% to 31.5%; 25%; and (D) 53% to 22%, 25%, respectively. The revision rate for patient with scoliosis (C+D) was significant (P=0.0035) compared with those without. Six of the 8 revised patients had a preoperative lateral (rotatory) listhesis (3 in C and 3 in D).

CONCLUSION

MIS decompression alone for leg dominant symptoms is a clinically effective procedure in the majority of patients including those with degenerative spondylolisthesis or scoliosis. However, patients with scoliosis, particularly those with lateral listhesis, have a significantly higher revision rate that needs to be considered in operative decision-making.

Lumbar spondylolisthesis among elderly men: prevalence, correlates, and progression

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE.: Estimate the prevalence of spondylolisthesis and determine the factors associated with higher or lower prevalence among men aged 65 years or older.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Spondylolisthesis prevalence is reported to increase with age and to be higher among women than men. Among women aged > or =65 years, prevalence was estimated to be 29%, but no estimates among men of this age have been reported. METHODS.: Lateral lumbar spine radiographs were obtained at baseline and a follow-up visit in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study, a cohort of community dwelling men ages > or =65 years. Average time between radiographs was 4.6 (+/-0.4) years. For the present study, 300 men were sampled at random at baseline. Of these, 295 had a usable baseline radiograph; 190 surviving participants had a follow-up radiograph. Spondylolisthesis was defined as a forward slip > or =5%. Progression was defined as a 5% increase in slip severity on the follow-up radiograph. Associations of spondylolisthesis prevalence with baseline characteristics were estimated with age-adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals from log binomial regression models.

RESULTS

The mean (SD) age of the men studied was 74 (+/-6) years. Prevalence of lumbar spondylolisthesis was 31%. Spondylolisthesis was observed at the L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S1 levels. In 96% with spondylolisthesis, only one vertebral level was involved. The degree of slip ranged from 5% to 28%, and nearly all listhesis was classified as Meyerding grade I. During follow-up, 12% of men with prevalent spondylolisthesis had progression; 12% without baseline spondylolisthesis had new onset. Prevalence did not vary by height, BMI, smoking history, diabetes, or heart disease. However, men with spondylolisthesis more often reported higher levels of physical activity or walking daily for exercise than men without spondylolisthesis.

CONCLUSION

Spondylolisthesis may be more common among older men than previously recognized.

Smaller facet effusion in association with restabilization at the time of operation in Japanese patients with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis

Object

The objective of this study was to assess, in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis, which factors determine whether the involved disc levels were restabilized or remained unstable at the time of operation using multifactorial analysis.

Methods

A total of 195 consecutive patients who had received laminectomy with or without fusion at our hospital between 2003 and 2007 for progressed degenerative spondylolisthesis (slip percentage > 10% at lateral flexion position) with spinal canal stenosis participated in this study. Sagittal plane unstable motion was defined according to the criteria that translatory displacement was > 4 mm (translatory hypermobility) or rotatory displacement was > 10° (rotatory hypermobility). There were 52 unstable cases (including 23 translatory and 43 rotatory hypermobility cases) and 143 stable cases. Nine parameters were investigated retrospectively as candidate factors: age, sex, body mass index, disc level, grade of disc degeneration, grade of disc spur formation, facet effusion size, length of facet spur formation, and angle between facets. The differences in the candidate factors between the unstable and stable group, together with the association between translatory or rotatory displacements and factors other than sex and disc level, were investigated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was also used to determine independent factors for the presence of unstable motion at the time of operation.

Results

The unstable group had significantly greater facet effusion size (p < 0.001) than the stable group. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in age, sex, body mass index, disc level, grade of disc degeneration, grade of disc spur formation, length of facet spur formation, or angle between facets. Multiple regression analysis for all candidate factors (except for sex and disc level) indicated that translatory displacement significantly correlated with facet effusion size positively (p < 0.001), and that rotatory displacement significantly correlated with facet effusion size positively (p < 0.001) and with age (p = −0.042) and grade of disc degeneration (p = −0.033) negatively. Logistic regression analysis for all candidate factors demonstrated that increased facet effusion size (OR 1.656, 95% CI 1.182–2.321) was the only independent factor for the presence of unstable motion at the time of operation. Facet effusion size had high negative but low positive predictive value in determining unstable motion at the time of operation. One of the reasons for the low positive predictive value was the association between facet spur formation and restabilization of the segments in the patients with greater facet effusion.

Conclusions

Facet effusion size was associated with the determination of whether the affected disc was stabilized or remained unstable at the time of operation. In particular, a smaller facet effusion size strongly suggested that the affected disc had been restabilized in the patients with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Clinical and biochemical characteristics of patients with thyroid-stimulating hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas from one New Zealand centre

BACKGROUND

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenomas (TSHoma) are a rare cause of thyrotoxicosis and need to be distinguished from the syndrome of resistance to thyroid hormone. Patients with TSHoma may also be misdiagnosed as having primary hyperthyroidism and receive inappropriate treatment directed towards the thyroid gland.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of patients with TSHoma who presented to one New Zealand endocrine service between 1989 and 2003.

RESULTS

Six patients with TSHoma were managed during this time period. All patients had elevated free thyroid hormone levels with elevated, or inappropriately normal, TSH levels. The median age at presentation was 43 years and the median time from symptom onset to correct diagnosis was 3 years (range 0.25-12 years). Five patients had a macroadenoma at the time of diagnosis. Three had been treated elsewhere for primary hyperthyroidism prior to referral. Three patients received octreotide as primary treatment with two of these patients later undergoing transsphenoidal resection of the pituitary adenoma.

CONCLUSION

With increased awareness and earlier diagnosis of TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas, management can be appropriately directed towards the pituitary.

Microsurgical bilateral decompression via a unilateral approach for lumbar spinal canal stenosis including degenerative spondylolisthesis

OBJECT

Surgical outcome and radiographic changes after microsurgical bilateral decompression via a unilateral approach (MBDU) for lumbar spinal canal stenosis during midterm follow-up periods (> 2 years) have not been reported. The authors retrospectively investigated surgical outcomes after MBDU in patients with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis with stenosis in comparison with patients with degenerative stenosis during a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. Radiographic changes at the affected intervertebral level were analyzed during that follow-up period.

METHODS

Forty-eight patients (23 in the spondylolisthesis group, 25 in the degenerative stenosis group) were included in the study. The average follow-up period was 46 months (range 24-71 months). Surgical outcome was evaluated using the Neurogenic Claudication Outcome Score (NCOS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Additionally, the back pain score within the NCOS was also compared. There were no statistically significant differences between the spondylolisthesis group and the degenerative stenosis group with regard to sex, age, follow-up period, operating time, blood loss, surgical sites, approach side, preoperative NCOS, preoperative back pain score, and preoperative ODI. Comparisons were also made between groups using 2 satisfaction measurements at the last follow-up visit. Radiographically, intervertebral angles of 80 sites and slip percentages of 24 sites were measured preoperatively and at the last follow-up.

RESULTS

No patient in either group had additional surgery in the lumbar spine, including fusion procedures. The NCOS, back pain score, and ODI had significantly improved at the last follow-up in both groups. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in these 3 parameters and the 2 satisfaction measurements at the last follow-up, although those for the spondylolisthesis group indicated a somewhat worse outcome. Intervertebral angles, dynamic intervertebral angles, and dynamic slip percentage did not significantly change after surgery, whereas only slip percentage significantly increased postoperatively (p = 0.0319).

CONCLUSIONS

A satisfactory outcome of MBDU persisted for a period longer than 2 years for patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis with stenosis as well as for those with degenerative stenosis. Radiographically in both groups this less invasive procedure was not likely to result in postoperative dynamic instability at the affected level, although the slippage progressed in the spondylolisthesis group.

Clinicopathological characterization of TSH-producing adenomas: special reference to TSH-immunoreactive but clinically non-functioning adenomas

Thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH))-producing pituitary adenomas have been known to be quite variable in clinical features covering from typical functioning TSH-producing adenomas (FTSHomas) associated with hyperthyroidism to clinically silent TSH cell adenomas (STAs) that are apparently unassociated with hyperthyroidism. It is important to distinguish STAs from other types of clinically non-functioning adenomas for adequate postoperative managements. However, because of rareness of TSH-producing adenomas, their histopathological features linking to the clinical manifestations have not been well characterized. Herein, we investigated clinical and histopathological findings to characterize 29 TSH-producing adenomas including 20 FTSHomas and nine STAs. Clinical symptoms of the patients with STAs included headache, visual defect, vertigo, and nausea. All STAs and 19 FTSHomas were macroadenoma. The average tumor size of STAs was significantly larger than that of FTSHomas (P < 0.05). The invasiveness was detected in 33% STAs and in 20% FTSHomas. Both STAs and FTSHomas showed a variety of morphological features and immunohistochemical profiles. Chromophobic polygonal or short-spindled tumor cells usually proliferated in a diffuse pattern, while they exhibited globoid or whorl-like appearance with intertwined cytoplasmic processes in both subgroups. Stromal fibrosis and calcification were often noted. Their nuclei were somehow pleomorphic. Ultrastructural features of all four STAs examined were similar to those of normal thyrotrophs. Thus, STAs and FTSHomas were indistinguishable by histology alone. Immunohistochemically, the number of TSH-positive cells in individual FTSHomas was highly various. Six tumors showed only a few TSH-positive cells (1-5%), and three were negative for TSH by conventional method without antigen retrieval. After proteinase K treatment, these tumors turned out TSH positive. As defined, STAs were TSH positive in more than 20% of tumor cells and three of them in more than 50%. Growth hormone- and/or prolactin-positive cells were detected in 55% STAs and 63% FTSHomas. Both pituitary-specific transcription factor 1 and GATA-binding protein 2 were expressed in all STAs and 20 FTSHomas. Membranous somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-2A immunoreactivity was found in 89% STAs and 94% FTSHomas, whereas SSTR5 was positive in 78% of both STAs and FTSHomas. MIB-1 labeling index was related to tumor invasiveness and tumor size (P < 0.05, P = 0.09, respectively). Thus, although both STAs and FTSHomas showed unique histopathological features distinct from other type adenomas, these two subgroups were indistinguishable by histopathology. Immunohistochemistry for TSH by use of antigen retrieval, transcription factors, and SSTRs may be useful to confirm STAs and to determine the postoperative therapy among various kinds of clinically non-functioning adenomas.