Recurrence Of Pituitary Adenomas Following Gamma Knife RadiosurgeryKeywords: pituitary adenoma, hormone dysfunction, gamma knife, cavernous sinus, outcomeInteractive Manuscript
Ask Questions of this Manuscript:
What is the background behind your study?
The goal of Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) in pituitary adenomas is the control of tumor growth and endocrinopathy. Regrowth of a pituitary adenoma following GKRS is a rare event.
What is the purpose of your study?
Aim of this study is to investigate the causes of failure in the control of adenoma growth and possible pitfalls of the treatment.
Describe your patient group.
Between 1994 and 2008, 336 patients (131 men, 39%, and 205 women, 61%; mean age 45.7±0.7 years) with a diagnosis of non functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) in 156 pz (39%) or secreting pituitary adenoma (SPA) in 180 pz (61%). All patients had surgical treatment in our center and were treated with GKRS for residual pituitary tumor. No patient had previously received external fractionated radiotherapy (EFRT).
Describe what you did.
Medial marginal dose was 15.5±0.2 Gy (range 12-25 Gy) for NFPA and 22.2±0.3 Gy (range 12-25 Gy) for SPA at 50% isodose; the dose to the optic pathways was kept below 10 Gy. GKRS was performed to prevent growth of residual tumor in all cases and with the goal of control the endocrinopathy in secreting adenomas. Baselines and follow-up studies was focused on MRI and volume measurement to detect tumor progression.
Describe your main findings.
The mean follow-up after GKRS was 55.5±2.2 months (range 6-177 months); NFPA 46.6±2.9 month and SPA 68.2±3.8. There were 16 recurrences (4.8 %). The 5 years recurrence-free survival was 95.9% (95% CI, 93.0-98.7%) and 8 years recurrence free survival was 92.7% (95% CI, 88.2-97.2%). The pattern of recurrence was out of the field of previous radiosurgery in 12 (75%) cases while in the field in 4 (25%) cases: in 3 of the in-field recurrence the tumor had an aggressive behaviour. In 9 cases a new GKRS was performed as the only salvage treatment while in the other cases a a combination of surgery, EFRT, GKRS and medical therapy was utilized to control tumor growth.
Describe the main limitation of this study.
This is a retrospective study.
Describe your main conclusion.
Most of recurrences were caused by unrecognized components of residual adenoma at the time of the first treatment.
Describe the importance of your findings and how they can be used by others.
Current doses were found to be adequate for growth control, since in only 4 patient (1,2%) we detected an infield recurrence following GKRS.
The goal of Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) in pituitary adenomas is the control of tumor growth and endocrinopathy. Regrowth of a pituitary adenoma following GKRS is a rare event.
Aim of this study is to investigate the causes of failure in the control of adenoma growth and possible pitfalls of the treatment.
Between 1994 and 2008, 336 patients (131 men, 39%, and 205 women, 61%; mean age 45.7±0.7 years) with a diagnosis of non functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) in 156 pz (39%) or secreting pituitary adenoma (SPA) in 180 pz (61%). All patients had surgical treatment in our center and were treated with GKRS for residual pituitary tumor. No patient had previously received external fractionated radiotherapy (EFRT).
Medial marginal dose was 15.5±0.2 Gy (range 12-25 Gy) for NFPA and 22.2±0.3 Gy (range 12-25 Gy) for SPA at 50% isodose; the dose to the optic pathways was kept below 10 Gy. GKRS was performed to prevent growth of residual tumor in all cases and with the goal of control the endocrinopathy in secreting adenomas. Baselines and follow-up studies was focused on MRI and volume measurement to detect tumor progression.
The mean follow-up after GKRS was 55.5±2.2 months (range 6-177 months); NFPA 46.6±2.9 month and SPA 68.2±3.8. There were 16 recurrences (4.8 %). The 5 years recurrence-free survival was 95.9% (95% CI, 93.0-98.7%) and 8 years recurrence free survival was 92.7% (95% CI, 88.2-97.2%). The pattern of recurrence was out of the field of previous radiosurgery in 12 (75%) cases while in the field in 4 (25%) cases: in 3 of the in-field recurrence the tumor had an aggressive behaviour. In 9 cases a new GKRS was performed as the only salvage treatment while in the other cases a a combination of surgery, EFRT, GKRS and medical therapy was utilized to control tumor growth.
This is a retrospective study.
Most of recurrences were caused by unrecognized components of residual adenoma at the time of the first treatment.
Current doses were found to be adequate for growth control, since in only 4 patient (1,2%) we detected an infield recurrence following GKRS.
Project Roles:
