• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.495-503
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• 2020

Objective : Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenoma (PA) is an extremely rare functioning form of PA that accounts for 0.7-2% of all such cases. The previously reported outcomes of the surgical removal of TSH-PA are poor. Owing to its extremely low incidence, most available reports on TSH-PA are case reports or small case series. Thus, we investigated the clinical and endocrinological outcomes of surgically treated TSH-PA through our institutional series. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 14 consecutive cases of surgically treated TSH-PA, focusing on the clinical, radiological, surgical, and endocrinological data. Results : There were seven male (50%) and seven female (50%) patients. The mean age was 42.5 years (range, 19-63). The mean tumor size was 16.6 mm (range, 4-30). Optic chiasm compression was noted in six patients (42.9%), and no patient showed cavernous sinus invasion. Thirteen of 14 patients (92.8%) underwent transnasal transsphenoidal approach (TSA), and one patient underwent TSA followed by transcranial approach for residual tumor removal. Thirteen of 14 patients (92.8%) showed endocrinological remission; all patients who experienced remission showed subnormal levels of TSH (<0.4 μU/mL) on postoperative day 2. Recurrence occurred in two patients (14.2%). One patient underwent subsequent revision transnasal TSA for recurrent tumor removal, and the other patient underwent gamma knife radiosurgery for recurrence. Conclusion : Surgical treatment showed excellent surgical outcomes. The TSH level in the immediate postoperative period may be a predictor for endocrinological remission.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.271-274
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• 2009

Objective: We retrospectively analyzed the surgical outcomes of 42 patients with growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenoma to evaluate the clinical manifestations and to determine which preoperative factors that significantly influence the remission. Methods: Forty-two patients with GH-secreting pituitary adenoma underwent transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) between 1995 and 2007. The patient group included 23 women and 19 men, with a mean age of 40.2 (range 13-61) years, and a mean follow-up duration of 49.4 (range 3-178) months after the operation. For comparable radiological criteria, we classified parasellar growth into five grades according to the Knosp classification. We analyzed the surgical results of the patients according to the most recent stringent criteria for cure. Results: The overall rate of endocrinological remission in the group of 42 patients after primary TSS was 64% (26 of 42). The remission rate was 67% (8 of 12) for microadenoma and 60% (18 of 30) for macroadenoma. The remission rate was 30%(3 of 10) for the group with cavernous sinus invasion and 72% (23 of 32) for the group with intact cavernous sinus. Cavernous sinus invasion in Knosp grade III and IV was significantly correlated with the remission rate. There was a significant relationship between preoperative mean GH concentration and early postoperative outcome, with most patients in remission having a lower preoperative GH concentration. Conclusion: TSS is thought to be an effective primary treatment for GH-secreting pituitary adenomas according to the most recent criteria of cure. Because the remission rate in cases with cavernous sinus invasion is very low, early detection of the tumor before it extends into the cavernous sinus and a long-term endocrinological and radiological follow-up are necessary in order to improve the remission rate of acromegaly.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.754-762
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• 2000

Objectives : The surgical results of 80 patients with growth hormone(GH)-producing pituitary adenoma were analyzed retrospectively to evaluate the clinical manifestations and to determine which preoperative factors significantly influenced the surgical outcome. Patients and Methods : The patients consisted of 39 men and 41 women and the age of patients at the time of initial operation ranged from 17 to 67 years(mean age, 40.5 years) Between January 1990 and June 1996, 77 patients underwent transsphenoidal surgery and 3 patients underwent craniotomy for GH-producing pituitary adenoma at our institution. Preoperative administration of octreotide was performed in 18 patients. Surgical control was defined as a postoperative serum basal level of GH less than 5ng/ml. A logistic regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis. Probability value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results : The most common presenting symptom was acromegaly, followed by headache, visual disturbance, and fatigability. Visual symptoms were present in 39% of the patients. Diabetes mellitus was associated in 24 patients and hypertension in 12. Preoperative mean basal level of GH was 93.2ng/ml(range 72-500ng/ml) which was closely related with tumor size(p<0.05). Grade II by Hardy's classification was the most common radiological type. Preoperative octreotide treatment significantly reduced the level of GH(p<0.05), but not enough to induce endocrinological remission. One patient died of cerebral infarction after craniotomy. The most common surgical complication was transient diabetes insipidus. The symptom of the earliest improvement after surgery was paresthesia and tightness of the hand and foot, followed by headache and easy fatigability. The preoperative visual symptom was improved in all patients. The patients who had hypertension or DM experienced alleviated symptoms in 67% and 92%, respectively. The overall rate of endocrinological remission was 44%. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, the size of tumor, extrasellar extension, and extent of removal were significant prognostic factors for endocrinologial remission. Conclusion : Early detection of a small tumor without extrasellar extension followed by a complete resection is highly recommended in order to achieve endocrinological cure of GH-producing pituitary adenomas.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.611-621
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• 2001

Objective : We analyzed the clinical and endocrinological results of the transsphenoidal microsurgery for ACTH secreting pituitary adenomas. Marerials and Methods : From October 1995 to August 2000, 18 patients underwent transsphenoidal microsurgery for Cushing's disease. We analyzed the surgical results of 17 patients, one patient who was previously operated from other hospital was excluded. Age of the patients were 18 to 61 years old(mean 37.7), male to female ratio was 1 : 3.3, and follow-up period was 3 to 50 months(mean 20.3). The selection of candidates for transsphenoidal exploration was based on endocrinologic criteria. Magnetic resonance imaging was the preferred radiologic test. Selective inferior petrosal sinus sampling of adrenocorticotropic hormone futher refined the diagnosis when endocrinologic and radiologic procedures were not definitive. Results : Results of the preoperative endocrinological test were : level of serum ACTH 29.4 to $225{\mu}g/dL$(mean $93.88{\mu}g/dL$) ; serum cortisol 11.9 to $47.5{\mu}g/dL$(mean $27.49{\mu}g/dL$) ; 24-hour urine free cortisol 235 to $1019{\mu}g/day$(mean $571.0{\mu}g/day$). Inferior petrosal sinus sampling for ACTH was performed in 11 patients and all were confirmed by Cushing's disease and we could predict the laterality of the tumor in 9 of 11 patients. We performed transsphenoidal selective adenomectomy in 5 patients, adenomectomy and subtotal hypophysectomy in 2 patients, adenomectomy and partial hypophysectomy in 9 patients, and in the remaining one patient, hemihypophysectomy followed by total hypophysectomy due to remission failure. Fifteen of 17 patients(88.2%) showed endocrinological remission. Glucocorticoid replacement therapy was performed in all the patients who showed remission for 1 to 24 months(mean 5.9 months), and 6 patients received steroid over 6 months. Conclusion : We conclude that the direct demonstration of a tumor in the pituitary gland by MRI is the most important and definitive diagnostic tool and the location of a mass should be confirmed with increased level of ACTH by the inferior petrosal sinus sampling. Transsphenoidal microsurgery is effective treatment modality for Cushing's disease and the immediate postoperative evaluation of the surgical resection of the tumor is very important. The patients should show hypocortisolism, decreased, subnormal serum ACTH and cortisol levels and 24-hours urine free cortisol. We performed 18 transsphenoidal microsurgery for Cushing's disease in 17 patients and 15 patients(88.2%) showed endocrinological remission.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1316-1321
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• 2000

Objectives : The authors analyzed the surgical series of Cushing's disease to evaluate the proper treatment policy and to verify the possible prognostic factors. Material and Methods : Of 50 patients diagnosed as Cushing's disease and operated at Department of Neurosurgery of our institute between 1988 and 1999, 48 patients with available medical records were analyzed retrospectively. Mean follow-up period was 48 months(3 to 109 months). Preoperative diagnosis was made after evaluating the patients with multiple-stage endocrinological studies and 31 selective patients were evaluated with inferior petrosal sinus sampling(IPSS). Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and/or high resolution computerized tomography(CT) was done in all patients. A total of 51 transsphenoidal adenomectomy(TSA) were performed including 3 revision for initial surgical failure cases. Remission was decided on the basis of both endocrinological criteria and clinical status. Radiation and/or ketoconazole therapy were applied to failed cases. For the verification of prognostic factors, the authors evaluated the statistical significance of multiple variables over remission rate by chi-square test. Result : Sensitivity of IPSS for central localization was 93.5% which was better than that of MRI(87.5%). But for lateralization, it was 72.4% for IPSS versus MRI 90.5%. Success rate of TSA was 82%(42/51) and recurrence rate was 9%(4/48). When including adjuvant treatments for surgically failed cases, overall success rate was 89.6% and all of 3 reoperated cases(TSA) due to recurrence were successful. Significant complication occurred in 7.8%(4/51) after TSA including hypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus, and visual loss. Non-existence of tumor in MRI and prolonged symptom duration(>3 years) were significant prognostic factors. Conclusion : TSA can be considered as initial treatment for Cushing's disease. In surgically failed cases, multiple treatment modality may improve the overall outcome and repeated TSA for recurrent cases seem to provide similar success.