TITLE:
The clinical characteristics of three subgroups of non-functioning pituitary adenomas
AUTHORS:
Adam Hull, Stephen D. Milhollin, John E. Vena, David V. LaBorde
KEYWORDS:
Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenomas; Clinical Characteristics; Recurrence
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Neuroscience,
Vol.4 No.1,
February
19,
2014
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Despite the
fact that non-functioning pituitary adenomas
do not overproduce hormones, many will stain positive for a particular
pituitary hormone, which can be used to differentiate these adenomas into
subgroups. If these different sub-groups behave differently in terms of post
surgical progression of disease (PSPD) rates or other clinical variables, then
better treatment and prognosis could be predicted. Methods: This was a
retrospective cohort study. Patients who have undergone surgery for removal of
a non-functioning pituitary adenoma at Emory University Hospital served as the
source for all data used in this study (n = 184). Data were collected from a
database of electronic medical records (EMRs) for these patients in 2010
documenting clinical and demographic variables including treatment and PSPD. Results:
Risk for PSPD did not differ by adenoma
subtypes: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH+), luteinizing hormone
(LH+), or those that do not stain positive for any hormone (non-functioning, or
NF?) (p = 0.971). There were two clinical characteristics statistically related
to adenoma subtype: altered mental status and
the anterior-posterior (AP) dimension of pre-operative adenomas. PSPD
was related to several clinical characteristics, including gender, previous
adenoma, post-operative residual, and follow-up time.