Clinicopathological characteristics and therapeutic outcomes in thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas: a single-center study of 90 cases

Abstract

Object The aim of this study was to analyze clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes in a large single-center clinical series of cases of thyrotropin (TSH)–secreting pituitary adenomas. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed clinical, pathological, and treatment characteristics of 90 consecutive cases of TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas treated with transsphenoidal surgery between December 1991 and May 2013. The patient group included 47 females and 43 males (median age 42 years, range 11–74 years). Results Sixteen tumors (18%) were microadenomas and 74 (82%) were macroadenomas. Microadenomas were significantly more frequent in the more recent half of our case series (12 of 45 cases) (p = 0.0274). Cavernous sinus invasion was confirmed in 21 patients (23%). In 67 cases (74%), the tumors were firm elastic or hard in consistency. Acromegaly and hyperprolactinemia were observed, respectively, in 14 (16%) and 11 (12%) of the 90 cases. Euthyroidism was achieved in 40 (83%) of 48 patients and tumor shrinkage was found in 24 (55%) of 44 patients following preoperative somatostatin analog treatment. Conventional transsphenoidal surgery, extended transsphenoidal surgery, and a simultaneous combined supra- and infrasellar approach were performed in 85, 2, and 3 patients, respectively. Total removal with endocrinological remission was achieved in 76 (84%) of 90 patients, including all 16 (100%) patients with microadenomas, 60 (81%) of the 74 with macroadenomas, and 8 (38%) of the 21 with cavernous sinus invasion. None of these 76 patients experienced tumor recurrence during a median follow-up period of 2.8 years. Stratifying by Knosp grade, total removal with endocrinological remission was achieved in 34 of 36 patients with Knosp Grade 0 tumors, all 24 of those with Grade 1 tumors, 12 of the 14 with Grade 2 tumors, 6 of the 8 with Grade 3 tumors, and none of the 8 with Grade 4 tumors. Cavernous sinus invasion and tumor size were significant independent predictors of surgical outcome. Immunoreactivity for growth hormone, prolactin, or both hormones was present in 32, 9, and 24 patients, respectively. The Ki-67 labeling index was less than 3% in 71 (97%) of 73 tumors for which it was obtained and 3% or more in 2. Postsurgery pituitary dysfunction was found in 15 patients (17%) and delayed hyponatremia was seen in 9. Conclusions TSH-secreting adenomas, particularly those in the microadenoma stage, have increased in frequency over the past 5 years. The high surgical success rate achieved in this series is due to relatively early diagnosis and relatively small tumor size. In addition, the surgical strategies used, such as extracapsular removal of hard or solid adenomas, aggressive resction of tumors with cavernous sinus invasion, or extended transsphenoidal surgery or a simultaneous combined approach for large/giant multilobulated adenomas, also may improve remission rate with a minimal incidence of complications.

An FSH and TSH pituitary adenoma, presenting with precocious puberty and central hyperthyroidism

“…GH and PRL co-secretion by thyrotropinomas has been reported to occur in 25–50% of the patients (11, 12). This is in line with the fact that thyrotropes, somatotrophs and lactotropes share the same Pit-1-dependent differentiation lineage (10).…”

Thyrotoxicosis: Diagnosis and Management

“…Cavernous sinus invasion is present in 23% of these lesions. 96 It can also cosecrete other pituitary hormones, most commonly growth hormone or prolactin (16% and 10%, respectively). 96 The treatment approach should be geared toward achieving surgical cure, with 84% of cases experiencing remission postoperatively and 17% complicated by postoperative pituitary dysfunction.…”

“…96 It can also cosecrete other pituitary hormones, most commonly growth hormone or prolactin (16% and 10%, respectively). 96 The treatment approach should be geared toward achieving surgical cure, with 84% of cases experiencing remission postoperatively and 17% complicated by postoperative pituitary dysfunction. 96 Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas express somatostatin receptors 2 and 5, 97 making somatostatin analogues an effective medical option in patients who are unable to undergo surgical resection.…”

“…96 The treatment approach should be geared toward achieving surgical cure, with 84% of cases experiencing remission postoperatively and 17% complicated by postoperative pituitary dysfunction. 96 Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas express somatostatin receptors 2 and 5, 97 making somatostatin analogues an effective medical option in patients who are unable to undergo surgical resection. Somatostatin analogues can be used to decrease tumor size either preoperatively or after incomplete surgical resection.…”

Thyrotropin-producing adenoma. Report of two clinical cases

“…При тиреотропиномах методом выбора является хирургическое лечение, что приводит к достижению эутиреоидного состояния, по разным данным, при-мерно у трети [18] или половины прооперированных пациентов [19], причем успех оперативного лечения и достижение ремиссии ассоциированы с ранней диагностикой и небольшим размером аденомы [20]. Перед оперативным вмешательством необходимо дости гнуть эутиреоза при помощи тиреостатиков, β-адреноблокаторов, аналогов соматостатина [5].…”