A Review of Visual and Endocrine Outcome Following
Surgery for Pituitary Adenoma in a Tertiary Hospital.
Abstract
Background: Pituitary adenomas present with hormone and visual dysfunction requiring surgical treatment. Evaluating benefits of treatment becomes expedient in our emerging tertiary practice.
Aims and Objectives: Evaluating benefits of treatment pituitary adenomas in a tertiary hospital, North Central Nigeria.
Methods: Retrospective review of cases of surgery for pituitary adenomas (Jan 2013 to Dec 2017). Study parameters were visual and endocrine functions evaluated up to 12 months post-op. Simple descriptive statistics was used for data analysis.
Results: Total 28 out of 57 cases (49%) had surgery. M:F 3:1. Mean age of 44 years (range 21 to 72 years). 23/28 (82%) were referred from eye clinics. Commonest presentation was visual impairment (100%). Bitemporal field loss in 12/28 (42.8%) and complete blindness in 10/28 (35.7%). Low cortisol and low thyroid hormone were observed in one case each (3.5%). Of the four functional cases, three were prolactin secreting and one growth hormone secreting. Mean time to presentation was 29 months (Range- 1 to 108 months). Commonest neuroimaging modalities were contrast enhanced CT and MRI. Commonest pre-op diagnosis was non-functional adenoma 24/29 (85.7%). Commonest surgical approach was transsphenoidal surgery 20/28 (70.1%). CVF at 12 months follow up recorded visual improvement in only 11/28 (39.2%). Hormone profile at 12 months showed improved status from 21/28 (75%) to 25/28 (89%) but residual prolactinemia in 2/28 (7.1%) and persisting GH secreting in 1/28 (3.5%). Check MRI at 12 months revealed no significant residual/ recurrent tumor and no chiasmal pressure in 16/27 (59.2%). Commonest histology report was pituitary adenoma with diffuse FSH/LH expression in 15/28 cases (53.5%). Further treatments were re-do operation and radiotherapy referral in 3/27 (11.1%) each.
Conclusion: Following surgery, a marginal improvement in vision was observed but hypocortisolism and low thyroid hormones were restored to normalcy at 12 months. However, despite surgical/ medical interventions GH remained high at 12 months in lone case of acromegaly and prolactinemia persisted in two out of the three cases.
Keywords: Pituitary adenomas; Visual impairment; Pituitary hormones; Transphenoidal surgery