Natural history of nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas followed without intervention: A retrospective cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Observation of NFPAs without surgery or medical therapy is a reasonable approach in selected patients. In our study, no parameter predicted tumour growth.
Study context
- Population
- Patients >18 years with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) ≥10 mm, naïve to surgery or medical treatment, followed >12 months after diagnosis; chiasmal threat excluded30 males
- Participants
- 49 patients
- Outcome
- Tumour growth (maximal diameter increase of ≥2 mm on MRI)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Tumour size change during observation · mean follow-up 4.9 ± 4.9 years
- Increase in tumour size
- 16 patients (33%)
- Average growth among growing tumours
- 5.1 ± 4.4 mm
- Reduction in tumour size
- 10 patients (20%)
- Mean decrease among shrinking tumours
- 3.5 ± 1.3 mm
- Stable tumours
- 23 patients
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Need for intervention
Patients
- Observed without any intervention
- 33 (67%)
- Operated
- 3
- Treated with cabergoline
- 13
Predictors of tumour growth
- None of age, gender, baseline tumour size, invasiveness, visual disturbances or hypopituitarism at diagnosis predicted tumour growth
Baseline characteristics · diagnosis
- Mean age
- 68.0 ± 12.0 years
- Average tumour size
- 17.8 ± 5.9 mm
Original publication
Natural history of nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas followed without intervention: A retrospective cohort study. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). Published 11 January 2023. doi:10.
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