Pituitary MRI Features in Acromegaly Resulting From Ectopic GHRH Secretion From a Neuroendocrine Tumor: Analysis of 30 Cases

CONTEXT

Ectopic acromegaly is a consequence of rare neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) that secrete GHRH. This abnormal GHRH secretion drives GH and IGF-1 excess, with a clinical presentation similar to classical pituitary acromegaly. Identifying the underlying cause for the GH hypersecretion in the setting of ectopic GHRH excess is, however, essential for proper management both of acromegaly and the NET. Owing to the rarity of NETs, the imaging characteristics of the pituitary in ectopic acromegaly have not been analyzed in depth in a large series.

OBJECTIVE

Characterize pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features at baseline and after NET treatment in patients with ectopic acromegaly.

DESIGN

Multicenter, international, retrospective.

SETTING

Tertiary referral pituitary centers.

PATIENTS

Thirty ectopic acromegaly patients having GHRH hypersecretion.

INTERVENTION

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

MRI characteristics of pituitary gland, particularly T2-weighted signal.

RESULTS

In 30 patients with ectopic GHRH-induced acromegaly, we found that most patients had hyperplastic pituitaries. Hyperplasia was usually moderate but was occasionally subtle, with only small volume increases compared with normal ranges for age and sex. T2-weighted signal was hypointense in most patients, especially in those with hyperplastic pituitaries. After treatment of the NET, pituitary size diminished and T2-weighted signal tended to normalize.

CONCLUSIONS

This comprehensive study of pituitary MRI characteristics in ectopic acromegaly underlines the utility of performing T2-weighted sequences in the MRI evaluation of patients with acromegaly as an additional tool that can help to establish the correct diagnosis.

Pituitary surgery in elderly patients: a safe and effective procedure

PURPOSE

The incidence of pituitary adenoma (PA) increases with age. Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) in elderly patients is often considered to have greater risk compared to the younger population. The aim of this study is to compare surgical results, evolution and postoperative complications between elderly and young patients undergoing TSS.

METHODS

Retrospective review of patients undergoing TSS between 2011 and 2018 in our institution. Patients were divided into two cohorts: elderly (≥65 years) and non-elderly (<65 years). Characteristics and outcomes of both groups were compared at diagnosis, before surgery and for an average of 5.9 years of postoperative follow-up.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty-five patients were included, 53 patients were ≥65 years (42%). The elderly patients were more likely to have non-functioning PA (NFPA) (90.5% vs. 45.8%, p: <0.01), a higher proportion of macroadenomas (92.4% vs. 77.8%, p = 0.029) and greater extrasellar extension (88.7% vs. 68.1%, p = 0.007). The elderly group also had more compressive symptoms (54.7% vs. 34.7%, p = 0.035) and hypopituitarism (66% vs. 47.2%, p = 0.029). Overall, surgical and endocrinological outcomes between the two groups were similar. Inpatient mortality in the elderly group was 1.8%. Regarding long-term outcomes, elderly patients had more postoperative hypopituitarism (67.9% vs. 45.8%, p = 0.03) with no differences in permanent diabetes insipidus, less residual tumours (24.5% vs. 40.3%, p = 0.019) and a higher rate of remission after surgery (71.7% vs. 52.8%, p = 0.034). When only NFPA cases were compared, the only significant difference was a higher frequency of macroadenomas in the elderly group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the safety and efficacy of TSS in elderly patients with PA. Age should not be considered an exclusion criterion for TSS given that successful results can be achieved if an experienced pituitary team is available.

Early versus conventional nutritional intervention in head and neck cancer patients before radiotherapy: benefits of a fast-track circuit

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Radiotherapy (RT) is a component of therapy for head and neck cancer (HNC) with a negative nutritional impact. Our aim was to compare an early versus a conventional nutritional intervention.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Retrospective study of HNC patients undergoing RT. Evolution before and after the establishment of a fast-track circuit was evaluated. A conventional group (CG) made up of patients submitted to the nutrition unit during RT after nutritional deterioration, was compared to an early group (EG) represented by patients included in a fast-track circuit, starting nutritional follow-up before the beginning of RT. Only patients with preserved oral intake were involved. Demographic, nutritional and clinical variables were analyzed. Data of hospitalizations and deaths were collected up to three months after RT.

RESULTS

135 subjects constituted the EG and 39 the CG. At baseline, the prevalence of malnutrition was lower in the EG (31.9% vs 69.5%, p = 0.0001), as was the need for nutritional supplements (40% vs 79.5%, p = 0.0001) or nasogastric tube (0% vs 12.8%, p = 0.0001) in comparison to the CG. Three months after RT, there were less patients with oral nutritional support in the EG (79.1% vs 96.9%, p = 0.018), and the number of emergency visits (0.75 vs 1.1 episodes per patient, p = 0.021) and hospitalizations was also lower in this group (29% vs 59%, p = 0.044).

CONCLUSIONS

The fast-track approach made early intervention possible. Therefore, patients maintained a better nutritional status, needed less nutritional support and their evolution improved, with a significant decrease in hospitalizations.

[Adult celiac disease: endocrinological and nutritional issues]

Celiac disease is an autoimmune enterophaty induced by the ingestion of gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. Although historically it was thought that it was an infrequent pediatric disease, now it is know that its prevalence is close to 1% in the general population. It is even higher between patients with some endocrine disorders and nutritional deficits. The use of antitransglutaminase and antiendomisium antibodies and the endoscopical duodenal biopsy are the cornerstones for its diagnosis. The introduction of a gluten-free diet will achieve the normalization of the intestinal mucosa. It will avoid the risk of long term complications and an it will achieve an improvement in quality of life. Medical and dietitian long term follow-up will be important to improve the compliance to the treatment.