High prevalence of morphometric vertebral fractures opportunistically detected on thoracic radiograms in patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma
Authors' conclusion
For the first time, we reported a high prevalence of thoracic radiological VFs in patients with NFPAs. Our data should prompt clinicians to proceed with a clinical bone fragility evaluation already during the diagnostic work-up, particularly in those with concomitant hypogonadism, or in those with older age and/or with lower fT3.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma (79 M/77F, mean age 55.75 ± 12.94 years) admitted to a Neurosurgery Unit before trans-sphenoidal surgery156 non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) patients
- Comparison
- NFPA vs matched controls
- NFPAn = 156
- Outcome
- Prevalence of morphometric thoracic VFs on pre-operative X-ray images
Methodological detailsage and sex-matched controls
- Age and sex-matched controls
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
P < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Secondary male hypogonadism
P = 0.047
Multiple and moderate/severe vertebral fractures (VFs) in NFPA
- Multiple VFs (48.8% of fractured patients)
- 20 patients
- Moderate/severe VFs (34.1% of fractured patients)
- 14
Age and serum free triiodothyronine (fT3) in fractured vs non-fractured
- Patients with VFs were older (p = 0.002) and had lower serum fT3 (p = 0.004) than non-fractured ones
Total testosterone in males
- Significantly lower in fractured than non-fractured males
- P = 0.02
Gonadotroph adenomas
- Prevalence significantly higher among patients with VFs
- P = 0.02
Independent predictors of VFs (multiple logistic regression)
- Older age and lower serum fT3 were independent factors predicting VF risk
Original publication
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