GAMMA KNIFE RADIOSURGERY FOR INVASIVE PROLACTINOMASKeywords: pituitary adenoma, prolactinoma, gamma knife, radiosurgery, outcomeInteractive Manuscript
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What is the background behind your study?
Pituitary tumors are suitable for radiosurgery but prolactinoma outcomes are uncommonly reported.
What is the purpose of your study?
We evaluated the efficacy of Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) as an adjunctive management modality for patients with cavernous sinus invasive prolactinomas.
Describe your patient group.
Twenty-two patients with cavernous sinus invasive prolactinoma underwent GKRS between 1994 and 2009. Thirteen patients were dopamine agonist (DA) resistant. Six patients were intolerant to DA. One patient took GKRS as primary treatment modality by his own choice. Two patients chose GKRS as a treatment modality hoping to avoid life long medication use. The median tumor volume was 3.0 cm3 (range 0.3-11.6) .
Describe what you did.
A median dose of 15 Gy was prescribed to the tumor margin (range 12-25). The median follow-up interval was 36 months (range, 12-185). Endocrine normalization was defined as a normal serum prolactin level off DA (cure) or on DA. Endocrine improvement was defined as decreased serum prolactin level but still abnormal. Endocrine deterioration was defined as increased serum prolactin level.
Describe your main findings.
Endocrine normalization was achieved in six (27.3%) patients. Thirteen (54.5%) patients had endocrine improvement. Four patients got endocrine deterioration. Imaging-defined local tumor control was achieved in 19 (86.4%) patients (12 had tumor regression). Three patients had tumor recurrence and underwent further treatment. One patient developed a new pituitary axis deficiency after GKRS.
Describe the main limitation of this study.
This was a retrospective study.
Describe your main conclusion.
Invasive prolactinomas remain a clinical challenge.
Describe the importance of your findings and how they can be used by others.
GKRS is a less invasive adjunctive management option and is effective in controlling prolactin levels in selected patients.
Pituitary tumors are suitable for radiosurgery but prolactinoma outcomes are uncommonly reported.
We evaluated the efficacy of Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) as an adjunctive management modality for patients with cavernous sinus invasive prolactinomas.
Twenty-two patients with cavernous sinus invasive prolactinoma underwent GKRS between 1994 and 2009. Thirteen patients were dopamine agonist (DA) resistant. Six patients were intolerant to DA. One patient took GKRS as primary treatment modality by his own choice. Two patients chose GKRS as a treatment modality hoping to avoid life long medication use. The median tumor volume was 3.0 cm3 (range 0.3-11.6) .
A median dose of 15 Gy was prescribed to the tumor margin (range 12-25). The median follow-up interval was 36 months (range, 12-185). Endocrine normalization was defined as a normal serum prolactin level off DA (cure) or on DA. Endocrine improvement was defined as decreased serum prolactin level but still abnormal. Endocrine deterioration was defined as increased serum prolactin level.
Endocrine normalization was achieved in six (27.3%) patients. Thirteen (54.5%) patients had endocrine improvement. Four patients got endocrine deterioration. Imaging-defined local tumor control was achieved in 19 (86.4%) patients (12 had tumor regression). Three patients had tumor recurrence and underwent further treatment. One patient developed a new pituitary axis deficiency after GKRS.
This was a retrospective study.
Invasive prolactinomas remain a clinical challenge.
GKRS is a less invasive adjunctive management option and is effective in controlling prolactin levels in selected patients.
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