Abstract

BACKGROUND
The present study investigated the rates and the potential predictors of either new pituitary loss or recovery of hormonal function after transsphenoidal removal of a non-functioning pituitary adenoma. METHODS: Patients who underwent transsphenoidal removal of a non-functioning pituitary adenoma from January 2003 to December 2007 at Ajou University Medical Center were included in this retrospective analysis. Patients were excluded if they had a history of previous pituitary tumor surgery, or did not have preoperative pituitary hormonal data. RESULTS: Of 42 patients included in the analysis, 36 patients had hypopituitarism, 21 patients had "stalk compression" hyperprolactinemia, and 2 patients had normal pituitary function. At long term follow-up (longer than 6 months), 13 patients showed postoperative pituitary hormonal recovery in at least 1 hormonal axis, while 6 patients had developed postoperative hormonal loss in at least 1 hormonal axis. On analysis, neither preoperative serum prolactin level nor tumor size was related to postoperative pituitary hormonal changes. CONCLUSION: More than 1/3 of patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery showed postoperative pituitary hormonal recovery.

• Keywords: non-functioning pituitary adenoma;pituitary hormone;pituitary surgery;postoperative outcome