Repeated transsphenoidal pituitary surgery (TS) via the endoscopic technique: a good therapeutic option for...

No data on results of repeated transsphenoidal surgery via the endoscopic technique for patients with persistent or recurrent Cushing's disease are available.

We retrospectively evaluated the remission rates and complications of repeated transsphenoidal surgery via the endoscopic technique in 14 patients with persistent (N = 6) or recurrent (N = 8) Cushing's disease treated in our centre between 1999 and 2007.

Remission was defined as the disappearance of symptoms of hypercortisolism with basal plasma cortisol level < or = 50 nmol/l 24-48 h after glucocorticoid withdrawal and/or suppression of plasma cortisol level < or = 50 nmol/l after 1 mg dexamethasone overnight within the first 3 months after transsphenoidal surgery.

With repeated endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery a remission rate of 10/14 (71%) was achieved. No patient had a relapse during a median follow-up of 24 months. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage was the most frequent complication (6 patients) and 11 patients required hormonal substitution after surgery. The success of repeated transsphenoidal surgery could not be predicted by visualization of an adenoma on MRI before first or second surgery, histopathological confirmation of an ACTH secreting adenoma after first or second surgery, treatment with cortisol lowering agents before first or second surgery, the operation technique used during the first surgery, persistent vs. recurrent disease after the first surgery, age, gender and interval between the two surgeries.

Repeated transsphenoidal surgery via the endoscopic technique is a good treatment option for selected patients with recurrent or persistent Cushing's disease following primary pituitary surgery.