Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2005) 10 P52

SFE2005 Poster Presentations Pituitary (11 abstracts)

A prospective follow up study of cognitive function in patients with pituitary tumours requiring surgery

K Treece 1 , K Narayanan 2 , J Wass 3 , N Karavitaki 3 , D Parker 4 , T Howlett 6 , R Quinton 5 & R Page 1


1Nottingham City Hospital, Nottingham , 2Gateshead Hospital Trust, Gateshead , 3Churchill Hospital, Oxford , 4Derby Hospitals Trust, Derby , 5Newcastle Hospitals, Newcastle , 6Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, United Kingdom.


Between March 1998 and October 2002, 62 patients requiring trans-sphenoidal pituitary surgery (PS) and 36 patients requiring endoscopic sinus surgery (controls, C) were recruited. Patients were aged 18–65 years and had not had previous surgery or radiotherapy to the brain. The mean ages (p>0.05) and genders (p>0.05) of the two groups were similar 47 years, 41% male (PS) compared with 43 years, 39% male (C). Baseline IQ of the two groups was also similar, 101±14 (PS) compared with 105±13 (C) p>0.05.

Pre-surgery the PS group had significantly lower results on two measures of memory and visual spatial functioning. Rey complex figure copy (p=0.002), Rey complex figure delayed recall (p=0.002), AMIPB (adult memory and information processing battery) list learning (p=0.011), and AMIPB list delayed recall (p=0.018).

Three and 12 months after surgery further tests were repeated. At 3 months the tests remained significantly different [Rey recall (p=0.001), AMIPB list learning (p=0.012), AMIPB list delayed recall (p=0.049)] except for the Rey complex figure copy (p=0.057). At 12 months the same tests were significantly different again including Rey complex figure copy (p=0.018) with AMIPB list learning word intrusions also becoming significantly different (p=0.036). Rey recall (p=0.008), AMIPB list learning (p=0.012) and AMIPB list delayed recall (p=0.025) were also significantly different.

The two groups which were similar in age, gender and IQ should have had similar results in cognitive function. The results suggest that pituitary disease results in a decrease in cognitive function particularly in the area of memory and that this is not improved or significantly worsened by trans-sphenoidal pituitary surgery.

Further analysis is taking place to look at the effect of radiotherapy.

Volume 10

196th Meeting of the Society for Endocrinology and Society for Endocrinology joint Endocrinology and Diabetes Day

Society for Endocrinology 

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