2016, Volume 9, Issue 2, pp 187 – 192

The multimodal management of GH-secreting pituitary adenomas: predictive factors, strategies and outcomes

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Authors and Affiliations

Correspondence to: Tabita Cazac, MD, ”Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, 8 Eroii Sanitari Blvd., District 5, Code 050474, Bucharest, Romania, Mobile phone: +40 766323590, E-mail: tabi_cazac@yahoo.com

Abstract

Object. The aim of this study was to analyze a series of 28 patients with acromegaly who underwent a multimodal surgical, medical and radiosurgical therapy, with a special attention to the advantages, complications, and predictive factors of a successful outcome.

Methods. 28 consecutive cases of GH-secreting pituitary adenomas, who underwent transsphenoidal endoscopic or microscopic surgery, between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Tumors were classified according to the diameter, measured on MRI, as micro- or macroadenomas, and parasellar (cavernous sinus) tumor extension was analyzed based on the Knosp grading score. The mean follow-up period was of 18.4 months. Criteria justifying the complete hormonal remission were preoperative basal serum GH < 2.5 μg/ L, preoperative nadirGH < 1 ng/ L after OGTT and normal preoperative IGF–I levels age and sex-matched.

Results. An overall complete hormonal remission rate was achieved in 64.3% of the patients. The remission rate was higher in patients with microadenomas (77.8%) than in those with macroadenomas (57.9%). A number of predictive factors, which might have interfered with the hormonal remission rate from a statistical, clinical and paraclinical point of view, were identified: tumor size (r = 0.625), preoperative GH serum levels (r = -0.517), cavernous sinus extension was quantified according to Knosp grading score (r = 0.469) and the degree of tumor subtotal resection (r = 0.598).

Conclusions. Favorable hormonal and visual remission rates can be achieved after transsphenoidal resection of GH-secreting pituitary adenomas; however, the management remains challenging, the increased surgical experience being important for higher cure rates. If a biochemical hormonal cure is not achieved postoperatively, adjuvant medical or radio surgical therapy can be recommended.

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About this article

PMC ID: 4863513
PubMed ID: 27453753
DOI: 

Article Publishing Date (print): Apr-Jun 2016
Available Online: 

Journal information

ISSN Printing: 1844-122X
ISSN Online: 1844-3117
Journal Title: Journal of Medicine and Life

Copyright License: Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.


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