Volumes of pituitary adenomas related to hormone production, duration of symptoms and postoperative outcome
Reinlie, S.; Haakonsen, M.; Eldevik, O.P.; Nesbakken, R.
Acta Radiologica. Supplementum 369: 306-309
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0365-5954 PMID: 2980482 Document Number: 285801
In the period from December 1978 to February 1986, 292 patients with pituitary adenomas were operated transsphenoidally. We measured tumor volumes from CT scans and pneumoencephalograms. Tumor volumes varied from 0.5 to 160 cm3. The duration of the clinical history varied from 6 months to 24 years. All pituitary hormones were recorded pre- and postoperatively in each patient. We found a positive correlation between tumor size and duration of clinical symptoms, both in hormone producing (active) and non-producing (inactive) adenomas. Among the prolactin and growth-hormone producing adenomas there was also positive correlation between tumor size and hormone levels: small and medium sized hormone producing adenomas (volume 6 cm3 or less), showed normalization of the preoperatively increased hormone levels after surgery. In patients with hormone producing pituitary adenomas larger than 6 cm3, we still found elevated serum prolactin or serum growth-hormone levels postoperatively. This indicates that the largest tumors could not be completely removed surgically. Pituitary tumors should be operated before they reach a volume of 6 cm3. If non-surgical treatment is initiated, the patient has to be closely followed with computed tomography.