Short-term endocrinological results after gamma knife surgery of pituitary adenomas

Stereotact Funct Neurosurg. 1998 Oct:70 Suppl 1:127-38. doi: 10.1159/000056415.

Abstract

We report our preliminary results after the radiosurgical treatment of 25 secreting pituitary adenomas with a mean follow-up of 20 months (range 6-36 months). Fifteen acromegalic patients showed a decrease of 65% in mean growth hormone (GH) levels after 6 months and of 77% after 12 months. Only 3 patients (20%) are considered to be in remission (mean GH and IGF1 level into the normal range). A decrease of prolactin (PRL) was noted in 46% and 64% at 6 and 12 months after radiosurgery in 4 patients with prolactinomas. There was no case of PRL normalizaion. At present 3/4 patients have individual PRL levels slightly above the normal range. A normalization of Urinary Free Cortisol (UFC) was noticed in 4/6 (66%) patients Cushing's disease within 6-12 months. Pituitary deficiency was noticed in this series in 4/25 patients (16%) who received subtotal or total pituitary irradiation for large postoperative remnants of secreting adenomas poorly defined on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

MeSH terms

  • Acromegaly / physiopathology
  • Acromegaly / surgery
  • Adenoma / diagnosis
  • Adenoma / physiopathology*
  • Adenoma / surgery*
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Cushing Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Cushing Syndrome / surgery
  • Endocrine Glands / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypopituitarism / etiology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nervous System Diseases / etiology
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Postoperative Period
  • Prolactinoma / physiopathology
  • Prolactinoma / surgery
  • Radiosurgery / adverse effects
  • Radiosurgery / instrumentation*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome