Skip to main content

Axis-specific analysis and predictors of endocrine recovery and deficits for non-functioning pituitary adenomas undergoing endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery

Pituitary volume 23, pages 389–399 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETSS) is a well-established treatment for patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs). Data on the rates of pituitary dysfunction and recovery in a large cohort of NFPA patients undergoing ETSS and the predictors of endocrine function before and after ETSS are scarce. This study is purposed to analyze the comprehensive changes in hormonal function and identify factors that predict recovery or worsening of hormonal axes following ETSS for NFPA.

Methods

A retrospective review of 601 consecutive patients who underwent ETSS between 2010 and 2018 at one institution was performed. Recovery or development of new hypopituitarism was analyzed in 209 NFPA patients who underwent ETSS.

Results

Patients with preoperative endocrine deficits (59.8%) in one or more pituitary axes had larger tumor volumes (P = 0.001) than those without preoperative deficits. Recovery of preoperative pituitary deficit occurred in all four axes, with overall mean recovery of 29.7%. The cortisol axis showed the highest recovery whereas the thyroid axis showed the lowest, with 1-year cumulative recovery rates of 44.3% and 6.1%, respectively. Postoperative hypopituitarism occurred overall in 17.2%, most frequently in the thyroid axis (24.3%, 27/111) and least frequently in the cortisol axis (9.7%, 16/165). Axis-specific predictors of post-operative recovery and deficiency were identified.

Conclusions

Dynamic alterations in pituitary hormones were observed in a proportion of patients following ETSS in NFPA patients. Postoperative endocrine vulnerability, recovery, and factors that predicted recovery or loss of endocrine function depended on the hormonal system, necessitating an axis-specific surveillance strategy postoperatively.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Data availability

The datasets generated during and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

  1. Monson J (2000) The epidemiology of endocrine tumours. Endocr Relat Cancer 7(1):29–36

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Jaffe CA (2006) Clinically non-functioning pituitary adenoma. Pituitary 9(4):317–321. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-006-0412-9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Molitch ME (2017) Diagnosis and treatment of pituitary adenomas: a review. JAMA 317(5):516–524. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.19699

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Lucas JW, Bodach ME, Tumialan LM, Oyesiku NM, Patil CG, Litvack Z, Aghi MK, Zada G (2016) Congress of neurological surgeons systematic review and evidence-based guideline on primary management of patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas. Neurosurgery 79(4):E533–535. https://doi.org/10.1227/neu.0000000000001389

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Ebersold MJ, Quast LM, Laws ER Jr, Scheithauer B, Randall RV (1986) Long-term results in transsphenoidal removal of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas. J Neurosurg 64(5):713–719. https://doi.org/10.3171/jns.1986.64.5.0713

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Solari D, Pivonello R, Caggiano C, Guadagno E, Chiaramonte C, Miccoli G, Cavallo LM, Del Basso De Caro M, Colao A, Cappabianca P (2019) Pituitary adenomas: what are the key features? What are the current treatments? Where is the future taking us? World Neurosurg 127:695–709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2019.03.049

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Swearingen B (2012) Update on pituitary surgery. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 97(4):1073–1081. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2011-3237

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Elhadi AM, Hardesty DA, Zaidi HA, Kalani MY, Nakaji P, White WL, Preul MC, Little AS (2015) Evaluation of surgical freedom for microscopic and endoscopic transsphenoidal approaches to the sella. Neurosurgery 11(Suppl 2):69–78. https://doi.org/10.1227/neu.0000000000000601discussion 78-69

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Quinones-Hinojosa A (2012) Schmidek and sweet: operative neurosurgical techniques 2-volume set: indications, methods and results (Expert Consult-Online and Print), vol 2. Elsevier Health Sciences, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  10. Fatemi N, Dusick JR, Mattozo C, McArthur DL, Cohan P, Boscardin J, Wang C, Swerdloff RS, Kelly DF (2008) Pituitary hormonal loss and recovery after transsphenoidal adenoma removal. Neurosurgery 63(4):709–718. https://doi.org/10.1227/01.Neu.0000325725.77132.90discussion 718-709

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Jahangiri A, Wagner JR, Han SW, Tran MT, Miller LM, Chen R, Tom MW, Ostling LR, Kunwar S, Blevins L, Aghi MK (2016) Improved versus worsened endocrine function after transsphenoidal surgery for nonfunctional pituitary adenomas: rate, time course, and radiological analysis. J Neurosurg 124(3):589–595. https://doi.org/10.3171/2015.1.Jns141543

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Vargas G, Gonzalez B, Ramirez C, Ferreira A, Espinosa E, Mendoza V, Guinto G, Lopez-Felix B, Zepeda E, Mercado M (2015) Clinical characteristics and treatment outcome of 485 patients with nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas. Int J Endocrinol 2015:756069. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/756069

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Little AS, Gardner PA, Fernandez-Miranda JC, Chicoine MR, Barkhoudarian G, Prevedello DM, Yuen KCJ, Kelly DF (2019) Pituitary gland recovery following fully endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma: results of a prospective multicenter study. J Neurosurg. https://doi.org/10.3171/2019.8.Jns191012

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Webb SM, Rigla M, Wagner A, Oliver B, Bartumeus F (1999) Recovery of hypopituitarism after neurosurgical treatment of pituitary adenomas. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 84(10):3696–3700. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.84.10.6019

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Nomikos P, Ladar C, Fahlbusch R, Buchfelder M (2004) Impact of primary surgery on pituitary function in patients with non-functioning pituitary adenomas–a study on 721 patients. Acta Neurochir 146(1):27–35

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Harary M, DiRisio AC, Dawood HY, Kim J, Lamba N, Cho CH, Smith TR, Zaidi HA, Laws ER (2018) Endocrine function and gland volume after endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for nonfunctional pituitary macroadenomas. J Neurosurg. https://doi.org/10.3171/2018.5.Jns181054

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. May ME, Carey RM (1985) Rapid adrenocorticotropic hormone test in practice. Retrospective review. Am J Med 79(6):679–684. https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9343(85)90517-0

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Deutschbein T, Unger N, Mann K, Petersenn S (2009) Diagnosis of secondary adrenal insufficiency: unstimulated early morning cortisol in saliva and serum in comparison with the insulin tolerance test. Hormone Metab Res 41(11):834–839. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0029-1225630

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Sterl K, Thompson B, Goss CW, Dacey RG, Rich KM, Zipfel GJ, Chicoine MR, Kim AH, Silverstein JM (2019) Withholding perioperative steroids in patients undergoing transsphenoidal resection for pituitary disease: randomized prospective clinical trial to assess safety. Neurosurgery 85(2):E226–e232. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuros/nyy479

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Manuylova E, Calvi LM, Vates GE, Hastings C, Shafiq I (2015) Morning serum cortisol level after transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenoma predicts hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function despite intraoperative dexamethasone use. Endocr Pract 21(8):897–902. https://doi.org/10.4158/ep15652.Or

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Hagg E, Asplund K, Lithner F (1987) Value of basal plasma cortisol assays in the assessment of pituitary-adrenal insufficiency. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 26(2):221–226. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2265.1987.tb00780.x

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Jenkins D, Forsham PH, Laidlaw JC, Reddy WJ, Thorn GW (1955) Use of ACTH in the diagnosis of adrenal cortical insufficiency. Am J Med 18(1):3–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9343(55)90200-x

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Chuang C-C, Lin S-Y, Pai P-C, Yan J-L, Toh C-H, Lee S-T, Wei K-C, Liu Z-H, Chen C-M, Wang Y-C, Lee C-C (2017) Different volumetric measurement methods for pituitary adenomas and their crucial clinical significance. Sci Rep 7:40792–40792. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep40792

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Marazuela M, Astigarraga B, Vicente A, Estrada J, Cuerda C, Garcia-Uria J, Lucas T (1994) Recovery of visual and endocrine function following transsphenoidal surgery of large nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas. J Endocrinol Investig 17(9):703–707

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Arafah BM, Kailani SH, Nekl KE, Gold RS, Selman WR (1994) Immediate recovery of pituitary function after transsphenoidal resection of pituitary macroadenomas. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 79(2):348–354. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.79.2.8045946

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Comtois R, Beauregard H, Somma M, Serri O, Aris-Jilwan N, Hardy J (1991) The clinical and endocrine outcome to trans-sphenoidal microsurgery of nonsecreting pituitary adenomas. Cancer 68(4):860–866

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Briet C, Salenave S, Bonneville JF, Laws ER, Chanson P (2015) Pituitary Apoplexy. Endocr Rev 36(6):622–645. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2015-1042

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Laws ER Jr, Iuliano SL, Cote DJ, Woodmansee W, Hsu L, Cho CH (2016) A benchmark for preservation of normal pituitary function after endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary macroadenomas. World neurosurgery 91:371–375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2016.04.059

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Cho CH, Barkhoudarian G, Hsu L, Bi WL, Zamani AA, Laws ER (2013) Magnetic resonance imaging validation of pituitary gland compression and distortion by typical sellar pathology. J Neurosurg 119(6):1461–1466. https://doi.org/10.3171/2013.8.Jns13496

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Arafah BM, Prunty D, Ybarra J, Hlavin ML, Selman WR (2000) The dominant role of increased intrasellar pressure in the pathogenesis of hypopituitarism, hyperprolactinemia, and headaches in patients with pituitary adenomas. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 85(5):1789–1793. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.85.5.6611

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Iglesias P, Arcano K, Trivino V, Garcia-Sancho P, Diez JJ, Cordido F, Villabona C (2017) Non-functioning pituitary adenoma underwent surgery: A multicenter retrospective study over the last four decades (1977–2015). Eur J Intern Med 41:62–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2017.03.023

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Chen L, White WL, Spetzler RF, Xu B (2011) A prospective study of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas: presentation, management, and clinical outcome. J Neurooncol 102(1):129–138. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-010-0302-x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Freda PU, Beckers AM, Katznelson L, Molitch ME, Montori VM, Post KD, Vance ML (2011) Pituitary incidentaloma: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 96(4):894–904. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2010-1048

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Biller BM, Samuels MH, Zagar A, Cook DM, Arafah BM, Bonert V, Stavrou S, Kleinberg DL, Chipman JJ, Hartman ML (2002) Sensitivity and specificity of six tests for the diagnosis of adult GH deficiency. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 87(5):2067–2079. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.87.5.8509

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Allahabadia A, Weetman AP (2003) Dynamic thyroid stimulating hormone tests: do they still have a role? J Endocrinol Investig 26(7 Suppl):31–38

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sector.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Jenie Y. Hwang, Diane J. Aum, Michael R. Chicoine, Ralph G. Dacey Jr, Joshua W. Osbun, Keith M. Rich, Gregory J. Zipfel, Julie M. Silverstein & Albert H. Kim

  2. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Cristine N. Klatt-Cromwell, Jonathan L. McJunkin, Patrik Pipkorn & John S. Schneider

  3. Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipid Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Julie M. Silverstein

  4. Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Albert H. Kim

  5. Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Albert H. Kim

Authors
  1. Jenie Y. Hwang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Diane J. Aum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michael R. Chicoine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ralph G. Dacey Jr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Joshua W. Osbun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Keith M. Rich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Gregory J. Zipfel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Cristine N. Klatt-Cromwell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Jonathan L. McJunkin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Patrik Pipkorn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. John S. Schneider
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Julie M. Silverstein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Albert H. Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

JYH and AHK wrote the paper. JYH collected the data. JYH and AHK performed statistics and analyzed the experimental data. DJA performed radiographic evaluations. JYH and JMS performed endocrinological evaluations. AHK and JMS oversaw the project. MRC, RGD, JWO, KMR, GJZ, CKC, JM, PP, JSS, and JMS edited the manuscript. All authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Albert H. Kim.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

AHK is a consultant for Monteris Medical and has received research grants from Monteris Medical and Stryker, regarding a clinical outcomes study for a dural substitute, which has no direct relation to this study. JMS is a primary investigator for clinical studies with Chiasma, Corcept, and StrongBridge, none of which has direct relation to this study. CKC is a consultant for Medtronitcs, which has no direct relation to this study. JSS is a consultant for Medtronics, Olympus, Optinose, and a Speaker's Bureau for Optinose, which are not directly related to this study. MRC received funding from 1) IMRIS Inc. for unrestricted educational grant to support an iMRI database and outcomes analysis project, the IMRIS Muliticenter intraoperative MRI Neurosurgery Database (I-MiND), 2) The Head for the Cure Foundation, and 3) Mrs. Carol Rossfeld and The Alex & Alice Aboussie Family Charitable Foundation, which have no direct relation to this study. Other authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

Approval was obtained from the ethics committee of Washington University in Saint Louis. The procedures and evaluations used in this study adhere to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (PDF 140 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hwang, J.Y., Aum, D.J., Chicoine, M.R. et al. Axis-specific analysis and predictors of endocrine recovery and deficits for non-functioning pituitary adenomas undergoing endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery. Pituitary 23, 389–399 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-020-01045-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-020-01045-z

Keywords

  • Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas
  • Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery
  • Endoscopic endonasal surgery
  • Endocrine status