Post-operative volumes following endoscopic surgery for non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas are predictive of further intervention, but not endocrine outcomes

Background

Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) remains the treatment of choice for non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas (NFPMA). The value of measuring tumour volumes before and after surgery, and its influence on endocrine outcomes and further treatment of the residual or recurrent tumour are unknown.

Methods

Data from patients who underwent endoscopic TSS for a NFPMA (2009–2018) in a UK tertiary centre were analysed for pre- and post-operative endocrine and surgical outcomes.

Results

Of 173 patients with NFPMA, 159 (61% male) were treatment naïve. At presentation, 76.2% (77/101) had ≥1 pituitary axis deficit. Older age (p = 0.002) was an independent predictor for multiple hormonal deficiencies. Preoperative tumour volume did not correlate with degree of hypopituitarism. Postoperative tumour volume and extent of tumour resection were not predictive of new onset hypopituitarism. Hormonal recovery was observed in 16 patients (20.8%) with impaired pituitary function, with the greatest recovery in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (21.2%, 7/33). A larger residual tumour volume was predictive of adjuvant radiotherapy (3.40 vs. 1.24 cm3, p = 0.005) and likelihood for repeat surgery (5.40 vs. 1.67cm3, p = 0.004).

Conclusion

Pre- and post-operative NFPMA volumes fail to predict the number of pituitary hormone deficits, however, greater post-operative residual volumes increase the likelihood of further intervention to control tumour growth.