Rethinking the Long‐Term Follow‐Up Strategy for Non‐Functioning Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumours in a Real‐World Setting
Authors' conclusion
Residual tumour progression and recurrence display distinct temporal patterns. Early imaging is warranted for patients with residual tumour, whereas those with complete resection may safely omit MRI within the first 2 years. A risk-adapted follow-up protocol can reduce unnecessary imaging while maintaining patient safety.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with histologically confirmed non-functioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (NF-PiTNETs) after first-line pituitary surgery, 2005–2020, minimum follow-up 36 months
- Participants
- 174 adults
- Exposure
- Residual tumour vs Complete resection
- Residual tumourn = 107
- Complete resectionn = 67
- Outcome
- Time to progression of residual tumour and time to recurrence after complete resection (serial MRI)
Methodological detailssingle-centre, tertiary referral centre
- Single-centre
- Tertiary referral centre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
| Group | Value | Median time to progression | Median time to recurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residual tumour | 27.1% | 47 months | |
| Complete resection | 22.4% | 67 months |
Value
Residual tumour27.1%
Complete resection22.4%
Median time to progression
Residual tumour47 months
Complete resection— not stated in the abstract
Median time to recurrence
Residual tumour— not stated in the abstract
Complete resection67 months
- Residual growths within 5 years
- 62.1%
- Recurrences appearing after 5 years
- two-thirds
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
Predictors of residual growth (multivariable Cox)
- Younger age: HR per year
- 0.94 (95% CI 0.91-0.97, p < 0.001)
- Larger tumour size: HR per mm
- 1.05 (95% CI 1.01-1.09, p = 0.015)
- Ki-67 showed a non-significant trend
Predictors of recurrence after complete resection
- Cox regression did not identify robust baseline predictors of recurrence
Risk-adapted MRI surveillance (2, 3, 7, 10 y for complete resection; 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 y for residual tumour)
- Reduction in imaging without missing any clinically relevant event
- 36%
Original publication
Rethinking the Long‐Term Follow‐Up Strategy for Non‐Functioning Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumours in a Real‐World Setting. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). Published 15 December 2025. doi:10.
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