Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction

Non-functional pituitary adenomas (AHNF) are large tumors expressed primarily by neuro-ophthalmological signs in the foreground and pose a problem of therapeutic management and prognosis.

Materials and methods

We report a retrospective study of 50 files of ’non-functional’ pituitary adenomas collected between 1993 – 2005 with the aim of evaluating the results of surgery and conventional pituitary radiotherapy with a minimum follow-up of 2 years for each patient. [Average follow-up: 60 months, range: 24-120 months].

Results

Our series was divided into 26 men and 24 women, the average age was 47 years with extremes of 17 to 80 years. The circumstances of discovery are the typical intracranial tumor syndrome in 26 cases (52%) and visual disturbances in 19 patients (38%). -On the neuroradiological level: it was an expansive pituitary macroadenoma in all cases (100%) and in 19% of cases of giant adenomas (≥ 4cm). - On the pituitary level: there was total or partial anterior pituitary insufficiency in 31 patients (62%) and diabetes insipidus in 3 cases (6%). - On the therapeutic level: 90% of our patients have been operated, including 20% resumed surgically; conventional radiotherapy (55 grays in 28 sessions) completed the surgery in 76% of cases.

Conclusion

The so-called ’non-functional’ pituitary adenomas are large pituitary tumors with significant locoregional and endocrine repercussions with a very mysterious physiopathological mechanism. They are now recognized with greater frequency thanks to advances in immunohistochemistry.The indication for surgical treatment is not the subject of any discussion. However, the therapeutic attitude in the event of postoperative tumor residue remains controversial. Recurrences can be observed very late and therefore justify very long-term monitoring.