SFEBES2026 Poster Presentations Neuroendocrinology and Pituitary (40 abstracts)
1Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, United Kingdom; 2University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
Background: Acromegaly is usually caused by a pituitary adenoma, resulting in excess growth hormone (GH) with high insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels. Neurosurgical, radiotherapy, and pharmacological treatment options have advanced. We evaluated outcomes of 71 patients over 47 years.
Methods: Retrospective review of all diagnosed with acromegaly between 19782025. Data were obtained from electronic and paper records. Biochemical remission was defined as nadir GH <1 µg/l and normal age-adjusted IGF-1.
Results: 71 patients (59.2% males) included (mean age 58.6 ± 1.8 years). Macroadenomas present in 44/71 (62%); microadenomas in 22/71 (31%); remaining 5/71 (7%) with unknown tumour size. Dopamine agonists (DA) were prescribed in 25/71 (35.2%); somatostatin analogues (SSA) in 21/71 (29.6%); Pegvisomant in 3/71 (4.2%); 6 achieved remission with medical therapy alone. 51 patients achieved biochemical remission (table 1); 34/51 (66.7%) required multimodal treatment. 9/58 (15.5%) required GH replacement post-operatively. Discordance between GH and IGF-1 results occurred in 38/71 (53.5%) patients.
| Treatment Modality | Number of patients | Number of macro-adenomas | Number of micro-adenomas | Biochemical remission or control |
| Surgery alone | 11 | 6 | 5 | 10 |
| Surgery + radiotherapy | 6 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| Surgery + medical therapy | 12 | 8 | 3 | 6 |
| Surgery + radiotherapy + medical therapy | 29 | 19 | 7 | 20 |
| Radiotherapy + medical therapy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Medical therapy alone | 10 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| No therapy necessary (pituitary apoplexy) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Insufficient data | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 71 | 44 | 22 | 51 |
Conclusion: Across over four decades of practice, 51/71 (71.8%) of patients achieved biochemical remission or control. Persistent discordance occurred in 53.5% patients, contributing to ongoing challenges in monitoring and defining cure.