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Transsphenoidal adenomectomy for GH-, PRL- and ACTH-secreting pituitary tumours: outcome analysis in a series of 125 patients

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Abstract

Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) is a well recognised treatment for secreting pituitary adenomas, however a very wide variation of clinical outcomes and recurrence rates has been reported, depending on the different criteria used to define the cure. We reported the clinical outcome of a large series of patients operated on for a secreting pituitary adenoma according to the most recent stringent criteria of biochemical remission nowadays accepted. One hundred and twenty-five consecutive patients with a secreting pituitary adenoma (42 PRL-, 67 GH- and 16 ACTH-secreting adenomas) who were operated on by the two same neurosurgeons were considered for the study. Biochemical remission of disease was achieved in 56% of patients; 78% for patients with microadenoma and 47% for patients with macroadenomas, respectively. No cases of mortality or major immediate postoperative complications were observed. Tumour size, high hormone levels and dural invasion were significantly correlated to a poor surgical outcome. The recurrence rates ranged between 0 and 24%, being higher for PRL-secreting tumours. In conclusion, TSS is safe and effective in secreting pituitary tumours. It is still the first treatment for GH- and ACTH-secreting adenomas, whereas in patients with prolactinomas, surgery should be reserved for cases of resistance or intolerance to dopamine agonists.

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Correspondence to G. Minniti.

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Esposito, V., Santoro, A., Minniti, G. et al. Transsphenoidal adenomectomy for GH-, PRL- and ACTH-secreting pituitary tumours: outcome analysis in a series of 125 patients. Neurol Sci 25, 251–256 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-004-0351-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-004-0351-z

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