Article
Radiotherapy or imaging follow-up after surgery of non-functioning pituitary adenomas? A retrospective study of 45 cases
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Authors
Published: | May 4, 2005 |
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Outline
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Objective
Post operative radiotherapy is often advocated as an effective treatment modality for non-functioning pituitary adenomas with postoperative residue. However, this treatment may have some side-effects and this systematic attitude is now controversial. The aim is to evaluate if there is a significant difference between non-functioning adenomas treated by postoperative radiotherapy and those only followed with recurrent imaging.
Methods
We study a retrospective series of 45 cases of non-functioning adenomas treated by surgery between 1991 and 2001. 35 patients had tumoral residue after surgery. 10 patients were treated by radiotherapy, 25 patients had a recurrent follow-up with MRI. We compare the rate of regrowth for each group and seek side-effects of radiotherapy.
Results
Tumor regrowth occurred in one case for the patients treated by radiotherapy. In the subgroup with MRI follow-up, we note two cases of long term recurrence. There is no significant difference between these two groups. For three patients treated by radiotherapy, we notice occurrence of side-effects: a transitory visual worsening, a mucous dryness syndrome, and a lacrymal hypersecretion.
Conclusions
Radiotherapy does not seem to bring of benefit in the postoperative strategy of non functioning pituitary adenomas. With these results, we suggest that MRI follow-up without systematic radiotherapy is the best strategy after surgery of non-functioning pituitary adenomas.