Table 5.

Surgical and postoperative characteristics

Characteristic	Confirmed CD (n = 90) Group A + B	Unconfirmed CD (n = 15) Group C	P value
Intraoperative technique
Pseudocapsular technique, n (%)
None	52 (58)	15 (100)	0.007
Partial	18 (20)	0
Complete	20 (22)	0
Multiple gland incision, n (%)	10 (11)	15 (100)	<0.001
Hemihypophysectomy, n (%)
None	56 (62)	1 (7)	<0.001
Minimal	17 (19)	1 (7)
Partial	16 (18)	12 (80)
Near total	1 (1)	1 (7)
Dural invasion, n (%)	18 (20)	0	0.07
Cavernous sinus invasion, n (%)	27 (30)	0	0.01
Endoscopy
Microscopic	5 (6)	0	0.51
Endoscope-assisted	24 (27)	3 (20)
Fully endoscopic	61 (68)	12 (80)
Major surgical complication, n (%):	5 (5.6)	0	1.00
Postoperative 3-month remission	76 (84)	0 (0)	<0.0001
Long-term surgical remission	63 (70)	NA	NA
Long-term remission without CS invasion	49/63 (77)	NA	NA
Long-term remission with CS invasion	14/27 (52)	NA	NA
Postoperative predictors
Nadir serum cortisol median (range); NR	1.49 (0.5-26.2); 0	4.70 (1.91-20.1);0	<0.001
Nadir postoperative plasma ACTH; median (range); NR	9 (1-73); 5	11 (5-19); 0	0.16
Length of hospital stay, days, median (range); NR	2 (1-27); 0	2 (2-5); 0	0.78
Survival n (%); NR	86 (96); 0	15 (100); 0	1.00
Additional treatments
Repeat operation	20 (22)	2 (13)	0.43
Medical treatment	5 (6)	3 (20)	0.09
Stereotactic radiation	4 (4)	0	1.00
Bilateral adrenalectomy	2 (2)	5 (33)	<0.001
Long-term remission after all therapies	70 (78)	NA	NA

Postoperative ACTH values were calculated before discharge. Gradient postoperative serum cortisol (maximal serum cortisol – nadir serum cortisol).

Abbreviations: CD, Cushing disease; CS, Cushing syndrome; NA, not applicable; NR, none reported/missing data.