Clinical Concerns about Recurrence of Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenoma

Abstract

Background

Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) are clinically challenging because they present at a late stage with local mass effects or hypopituitarism. Surgery for non-functioning pituitary adenoma requires a special strategic approach for both minimal morbidity and radical resection. However, the clinical predictive factors associated with recurrence are limited. Here, we investigated optimal treatment of non-functioning pituitary adenoma.

Methods

We enrolled 289 patients who presented with non-functioning pituitary adenoma between January 2000 and January 2012 and who had received follow-up for at least one year for this retrospective study. Of these patients, 152 were male and 137 were female, with a median age of 51 years (range 15.79 years) and a median follow-up of four years (range 1.12.6 years). Characteristics of patients and tumors were reviewed with electronic medical records and radiologic images, retrospectively.

Results

Of the tumors, 193 were gross-totally resected, 53 were near-totally resected, and 43 were sub-totally resected. The extent of resection and adjuvant radiotherapy were both statistically significant prognostic factors of recurrence. Immunohistochemistry of tumor specimens did not yield consistent results.

Conclusion

With a high rate of recurrence, NFPA should be closely followed-up over a long-term period. Improvement of surgical techniques with advanced surgical equipment and adjuvant radiosurgery would lead to reduce the recurrence rate and improve patients' outcome.

INTRODUCTION

Non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) is the most frequent type of pituitary tumor. This benign tumor is usually not life threatening and often presents as a macroadenoma larger than 10 mm. These macroadenomas can cause symptoms related to mass effect in which the optic apparatus is compressed, characteristically resulting in a bitemporal hemianopia. Patients can also suffer hypopituitarism secondary to compression of the normal pituitary gland. Most patients require surgery, and a trans-sphenoidal approach is considered the treatment of choice. Radical removal of the tumor mass results in improvement of visual symptoms in 80% of patients and relief of headache in almost 100% of patients [1], with most patients recovering completely after surgery.

A previous meta-analysis [2] found that most recurrence of NFPA occurs between one and five years after surgery, and that the rate of recurrence decreases after 10 years. However, in our experience, a significant proportion of NFPA recurs following a successful initial operation in the long-term follow-up period, suggesting that a longer follow-up period might reveal a higher recurrence rate. Despite possible tumor regrowth, recurrence cannot be detected before it is large enough to cause symptoms. NFPA is not related to the longevity survival and patients can expect normal life expectancy. Therefore, surgical resection of NFPA should not result in significant complications or morbidities. Residual or recurrent tumor can be treated with radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, or repeat surgery. However, obliteration of surgical landmarks, formation of scar tissue, and the effects of preoperative radiotherapy or medical treatment contribute to the difficulty of a repeat surgery. Complications are frequently followed by repeat surgery, and the rates of clinical remission are lower than those observed following a primary operation [3]. Radiotherapy or radiosurgery can be administered postoperatively as prophylaxis to inhibit recurrent growth.

Recurrence of NFPA after remission is well-recognized. However, the clinical predictive factors associated with recurrence are limited. Thus, the optimal treatment regimen and duration for this tumor have not yet been established. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical outcome and risk factors of recurrence in order to provide an optimal therapeutic plan for NFPA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between January 2000 and January 2012, 1,592 consecutive patients underwent surgery for pituitary tumor at Samsung Medical Center. All surgical procedures were performed by one surgeon (Kim JH). With regard to the endocrine status of these tumors, 1,050 were hormone-secreting, functioning pituitary adenoma and were excluded from this study. From the remaining patients, those with insufficient data (such as loss of medical record, loss of MRI, or follow-up less than one year) and those initially treated at another institution were excluded from this study. The remaining 289 patients were enrolled in the study. Of these, 282 patients (97.6%) underwent surgery via the trans-sphenoidal approach, whereas the remaining seven patients (2.4%) received the trans-cranial approach. All patients underwent general anesthesia. In most cases, the standard microsurgical transseptal approach was used. The anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus was opened bilaterally, and any septum in the sphenoid was removed. The floor of the sella was opened with a high-speed drill, and the tumor was removed with standard instruments of the transsphenoidal approach. After tumor removal, the floor of the sella was reconstructed in most cases with harvested autograft abdominal fat and septal bone.

Initially, all tumors were diagnosed radiologically with MRI. In addition, MRI and CT results were evaluated to determine the size of tumor, extent of tumor, and invasion into the cavernous sinus. The size of the tumor was measured on the coronal view of gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted image. The longest diameter measured was considered the tumor size. Post-operatively, MRI was performed in all patients to evaluate residual tumor. Gross-total resection (GTR) was defined as no residual enhancing mass on post-operative MRI. Near-total resection (NTR) was defined as suspicious residual enhancing mass on post-operative MRI or residual mass less than 10% of the initial size. Subtotal resection (STR) was defined as a significant residual mass greater than 10% of the initial size. We regarded the regrowth of a remnant tumor as a recurrence, because most recurrent pituitary tumors originate from remnant tumors. All treatments performed for residual masses before evidence of regrowth of residual tumor were considered adjuvant treatment. Conventional radiotherapy (RT) or gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) was performed for adjuvant treatment of residual enhancing mass. After surgery, all tissue specimens were examined by specialized neuropathologists and were confirmed to be pituitary adenoma. The remnant tissue specimens were examined using immunohistochemistry.

Statistical analysis

Data for continuous variables are presented as mean or median, while data for categorical variables are presented as number and/or percentage. Time to event data were summarized using Kaplan-Meier plots, and the log-rank test was used to determine statistical differences between groups. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed using with the Cox regression model. Statistical analyses were carried out using commercial software (SPSS, version 20; IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Results were considered significant for p values<0.05.

RESULTS

Patient and tumor characteristics

From the database of our institution, 289 patients (152 male, 137 female) with a median age of 51 years (range 15–79 years) and a median follow-up of four years (range 1–12.6 years) were included in the present study. Of these, 198 patients (68.5%) had follow-up longer than three years, 115 patients (39.7%) had follow-up longer than five years, and 23 patients (7.9%) had follow-up longer than 10 years. Most frequently, patients reported mass-related symptoms, i.e., visual symptoms in 149 (51.5%) and headache in 96 (33.2%). Thirty-nine patients (13.4%) were diagnosed incidentally. The median tumor size was 27.8 mm (range: 9–90 mm). Eighty-one tumors (28.0%) extended to the supra-sellar region and reached the third ventricle. Ten tumors (3.5%) extended to the infra-sellar region with invasion of the sellar turcica. Radiologic cavernous sinus invasion was observed in 43 tumors (14.9%) (Table 1).

Table 1. Clinical characteristics of patients and tumor with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas.

Variables	No. of patients
Number, sex (male:female)	289 (152:137)
Age, yr (median, range)	51 (15-79)
Clinical follow-up, yr (median, range)	4.0 (1.0-12.6)
Initial symptoms, n (%)
Visual symptom	149 (51.5%)
Headache	96 (33.2%)
Incidental	39 (13.4%)
Tumor size, mm (median, range)	27.8 (9-90)
Radiologic findings, n (%)
Supra-sellar extension	81 (28.0%)
Infra-sellar invasion	10 (3.5%)
Cavernous sinus invasion	43 (14.9%)

Most of the cases, i.e., 282 (97.6%), were conducted using a trans-sphenoidal approach, while the remaining seven cases (2.4%) were conducted with a trans-cranial approach. Those cases conducted with a trans-cranial approach had undergone initial surgery before 2007 and all had tumors extended to the supra-sellar region and showed involvement of the cavernous sinus.

Tumor progression

During the follow-up periods, 47 cases were recurred. Among them, 10 cases received GKS, 7 cases received RT, 4 cases had to receive a re-operation, and the other 26 cases were observed without any treatment. The progression free survival (PFS) was 83% at five years and 60% at 10 years for the entire cohort of cases. In totally, 193 tumors were gross-totally resected. There was no evidence of residual lesions on post-operative imaging, but 16 tumors recurred during the follow-up period. Fifty-three tumors were near-totally resected. Among them, four had received adjuvant treatment. None of these tumors were recurrent. However, of the other 49 cases that had not received adjuvant treatment, 14 tumors (28.5%) were recurrent. Forty-three tumors were sub-totally resected. Among them, 19 cases received adjuvant treatment, and three of these tumors were recurrent. The other 24 cases had not received adjuvant treatment, and 14 of these tumors (58.3%) were recurrent.

Multivariable analysis was performed to determine the factors that predicted improved outcomes. On multivariable analysis, potential prognostic factors.age, sex, extent of resection, and whether adjuvant treatments were considered. Age, sex were excluded as independent prognostic factors, while the remaining factors.extent of resection, and whether adjuvant treatment were identified as independent prognostic factors related to prolonged PFS (Table 2).

Table 2. Survival analysis for progression free survival.

Variables	Univariable		Multivariable
	HR (95% CI)	p-value	HR (95% CI)	p-value
Age (yr)
<60 vs. ≥60	0.87 (0.42-1.80)	0.698	0.69 (0.33-1.44)	0.323
Sex	0.59 (0.33-1.07)	0.080	0.76 (0.42-1.40)	0.378
Extent of resection		<0.001		<0.001
GTR vs. NTR	4.22 (2.02-8.81)	<0.001	4.87 (2.29-10.38)	<0.001
GTR vs. STR	7.08 (3.49-14.38)	<0.001	12.06 (5.74-25.35)	<0.001
Adjuvant treatment
Yes vs. no	0.73 (0.23-2.35)	0.594	0.16 (0.05-0.55)	0.003

CI, confidence interval; GTR, gross total removal; HR, hazard ratio; NTR, near total removal; STR, subtotal removal

Cases were classified into five groups based on the extent of resection and administration of adjuvant treatment. Group 1 (GTR) had a five-year PFS of 95%. Group 2 (NTR with adjuvant treatment) showed a five-year PFS of 100%. Group 3 (NTR without adjuvant treatment) showed a 65% five-year PFS, which was statistically significantly different from Group 1 (p<0.001). Group 4 (STR with adjuvant treatment) showed an 80% five-year PFS, and Group 5 (STR without adjuvant treatment) showed an only 35% five-year PFS, which was statistically significantly different from Group 1 (p<0.001) (Fig. 1, Table 3).

Fig. 1. Progression-free survival between groups based on extent of resection and administration of adjuvant treatment. GTR, gross total removal; NTR, near total removal; STR, subtotal removal; Tx, treatment.

Table 3. Comparing progression-free survival between the groups based on the extent of resection and administration of adjuvant treatment.

	N	Adjuvant Tx	Recur	Median-PFS	5 yr-PFS	p-value*
Group 1 (GTR)	193		16 (8.2%)	NR	95%
Group 2 (NTR with adjuvant Tx)	4	RT: 1, GKS: 3	0	NR	100%	0.405
Group 3 (NTR without adjuvant Tx)	49		14 (28.5%)	7.0 yrs	65%	<0.001
Group 4 (STR with adjuvant Tx)	19	RT: 13, GKS: 6	3 (15.7%)	NR	80%	0.135
Group 5 (STR without adjuvant Tx)	24		14 (58.3%)	3.7 yrs	35%	<0.001

*survival analysis versus Group 1 by Kaplan-Meier, log rank test. GTR, gross total removal; NTR, near total removal; STR, subtotal removal; Tx, treatment; PFS, progression free survival; RT, conventional radiotherapy; GKS, gamma knife radiosurgery; NR, not reached

There were no statistically significant differences in age or sex between cases with or without recurrence. Among cases of recurrence, tumor control rate was measured, excluding those cases for which the follow-up was less than one year after re-treatment. One of the seven cases that underwent RT experienced recurrence. One of the 17 cases that underwent GKS ex-perienced recurrence. Among the 289 patients in this study, 263 had available tumor immunohistochemistry data. Adrenocorticotropic hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, growth hormone, prolactin (PRL), and Ki-67 were analyzed; however, none of these factors showed statistical significance for recurrence of NFPA (Table 4).

Table 4. Immunohistochemistry data of non-functioning pituitary adenoma of 263 cases.

	Positive (N)	Negative (N)	p-value
ACTH	30	233	0.576
TSH	10	253	0.589
FSH	113	150	0.364
LH	50	213	0.716
GH	25	238	0.406
PRL	26	237	0.149
Null cell (all negative)	89	174	0.441
Ki-67	32	231	0.248

ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone; FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone; LH, luteinizing hormone; GH, growth hormone; PRL, prolactin

Endocrinology results

Of the total patients, 142 (50.2%) were prescribed hormonal replacement therapy after the operation. Among them, 36 patients (12.5%) were able to discontinue medication after six months, although 83 patients (28.7%) had to take the medication for longer than one year. Among the 198 patients with follow-up longer than three years, 69 (34.8%) had to take a hormone replacement. There was no difference in frequency of hormone replacement therapy prescribed among the groups based on extent of resection (GTR, NTR, and STR). Considering the effect of radiation therapy, only 3 of 23 patients were prescribed hormone replacement after adjuvant radiation therapy. There were no statistical differences in frequency of hormone replacement prescription before and after radiation therapy.

Complications

There was one case of re-operation due to cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Four cases had intracranial hemorrhage on postoperative CT scan (sub-arachnoid hemorrhage, one case; intra-cerebral hemorrhage, three cases). Three cases of intra-cerebral hemorrhage received re-operation without any neu-rologic deficits. There was one case of postoperative intra-cerebral hemorrhage with intra-ventricular hemorrhage, which was a revision operation in a recurred case. The patient progressed to a vegetative state. Postoperative intracranial infection was detected in two cases, one of which lead to death due to severe ventriculitis.

Illustrative case

A 22-year-old man visited our outpatient department presenting with visual field defects. Initial MRI studies showed a supra-sellar extending enhancing mass, suggesting pituitary adenoma. Baseline hormonal evaluation of the patient reveal-ed values within reference ranges. The tumor was removed near-totally via the trans-sphenoidal approach. A suspicious residual mass was identified on the upper left side of sella. MRI studies were repeated one year after the operation, and progressive growth of the enhancing nodular lesion was detected. The patient was lost to follow-up without any further treatment. Six years after the operation, the patient visited the outpatient department presenting with lethargy and weight loss. MRI showed a significantly progressed pituitary adenoma with hydrocephalus. The patient underwent surgery again via the trans-sphenoidal approach. The tumor was removed sub-totally. Unfortunately, postoperative intra-cerebral hemorrhage with intra-ventricular hemorrhage resulted in a deteriorated mental status. The patient required full-time care in a bed-ridden state. An adjuvant GKS was conducted to the residual tumor for growth control (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. Illustrative case. A 22-year-old male patient presented with visual field defects. A: Initial MRI showed pituitary adenoma. B: Suspicious residual mass identified after operation. C: 1-yr postoperative MRI showed progression. The patient was lost to follow-up without any further treatment. D: 6-yr postoperative MRI showed significantly progression with hydrocephalus. E: After the second operation, intra-cerebral hemorrhage with intra-ventricular hemorrhage occurred. F: An adjuvant gamma knife radiosurgery was conducted to the residual tumor.

DISCUSSION

NFPA has been reported to have a low probability of recur-rence, in part because many patients are not diagnosed until the recurrent tumor is large enough to cause a mass effect (i.e., compression of the optic apparatus or other structures). From this study, the PFS of NFPA was 60% at 10 years. These data suggest that a longer follow-up might reveal eventual tumor recurrence, and that it is important to find strategies to minimize recurrence. However, there is no consensus on the prognostic predictors of NFPA recurrence. Indeed, no single convincing prognostic factor for recurrence of NFPA was identi-fied in a previous meta-analysis study on NFPA [2]. In most studies, clinical factors of age, gender, tumor size and tumor invasion have had no predictive value on recurrence. Recently, many other factors that influence the proliferation of pituitary adenomas, such as angiogenesis, apoptosis, growth factors, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes and hormone recep-tors, were introduced [4,5,6]. Ki-67 has been suggested as an independent marker of tumor progression and recurrence in pituitary adenomas in some previous studies [6,7,8]. However, in our study, Ki-67 was inconclusive as a prognostic indicator, possibly due to a lack of sufficient sample size. Still, such immunohistochemical staining approaches could help in determining whether patients need intensive follow-up MRI.

In this study, patients with no residual tumor on postoperative imaging and patients who underwent adjuvant radiotherapy (RT or GKS) showed a similar risk of tumor recurrence. This finding is in agreement with previous reports [9,10,11] and suggests that gross total removal and/or adjuvant radiotherapy prevent the recurrence or regrowth of NFPA.

RT is usually reserved for NFPA patients whose tumors have the potential to behave more aggressively, are of considerable size, or have recurrence that might not be amenable to further surgery. In NFPA patients, RT results in excellent long-term local tumor control with reported rates of 90–97% at 10 years [12,13,14,15]. Previously, we found RT and GKS were efficient treatment modalities for the control of tumor growth in patients with pituitary adenomas; PFS was 99% at 2 years and 97% at 4 years, with no significant differences between the RT group and the GKS group [16]. Another study found that there was no major influence of RT on cognition in NFPA patients treated with RT compared to those treated with surgery alone [17,18]. Brain abnormalities on MRI (white matter lesions and cerebral atrophy) were not observed more frequently in NFPA patients treated with postoperative RT compared to patients treated with surgery-alone [19]. Adjuvant radiotherapy should not be delayed because of such marginal complication rates. Radiosurgery such as GKS has reported fewer complications than RT; hence, it can be a better option for adjuvant treatment. We would like to recommend receiving GKS for adjuvant radiotherapy, when the residual mass is detected.

Considering the complications of radiation, gross total removal should be the goal of surgery. However, it is generally recognized that radical surgery is not possible in some patients with pituitary adenomas, and approximately 15–20% of patients require repeat surgery because of tumor recurrence [20,21]. A meta-analysis of previous studies has found that the remission percentage of transsphenoidal surgery has not improved over the last three decades [2]. The majority of papers in that study were based on traditional surgery using microscopy. Endoscopic techniques have recently improved and are still advancing. The endoscopic technique is associated with shorter hospital stay, less blood loss, fewer nasal complications, and less frequent diabetes insipidus than conventional microscopic technique [22,23,24]. One of the advantages of using an endoscope is the better view and resection of residual tumors due to the possibility of introducing the endoscope into the sella turcica and supra-sellar region, which would facilitate surgical cure [25]. Moreover, this might prevent major bleeding in the cavernous sinus and lesions in the internal carotid artery [26]. This endoscopic surgery might lead to better results in cases of NFPA.

In conclusion, NFPA is not a life threatening disease, and the patients can expect full life expectancy. There should not be significant complications or morbidities after operation. However, based on our experience and the findings of this study, there is a significant recurrence rate of NFPA even in long-term follow-up. Recurrence is one of the most troublesome clinical outcomes of NFPA. To reduce the recurrence rate of NFPA, neurosurgeons must attempt GTR. In addition, talented skill or endoscopic technique can be helpful. Despite all efforts for a cure, residual tumor can be controlled by adjuvant radiotherapy, especially GKS, with a minimal complication rate. We would like to recommend receiving GKS for adjuvant radiotherapy, when the residual mass is detected. Even though immunohistochemistry showed no promising results in the current study, a larger study population size will be needed to validate this finding. Investigation of the genetic pathophysiology of NFPA and improvement of surgical technique with advanced surgical equipment will lead to improved patient outcome.