Preoperative Stratification of Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery Patients Based on Surgical Urgency

Currently, there is no prioritization scale available to distinguish those patients with pituitary tumors who require urgent surgical intervention from those who are candidates for elective treatment.

To develop a classification system that can help primary care physicians, endocrinologists, neurosurgeons, ancillary support staff, and hospital administrators identify high-priority surgical candidates.

An expert international panel of clinicians consisting of endocrinologists and neurosurgeons who are involved in the diagnosis and management of sellar disease was convened. The panel retrospectively reviewed individual experiences, including a cohort of patients operated upon for pituitary related disease at the Brigham and Women's Hospital from January 2008 to November 2015. A risk stratification schema was developed to streamline patient care pathways.

We identified 4 groups of surgical candidates with varying levels of risk, and then assigned treatment timelines and different differential diagnoses to each. The 4 groups were as follows: group A: urgent-immediate; group B: prompt-initiate treatment within 1 to 2 weeks; group C: soon-initiate treatment within 3 months; group D: elective-as soon as indicated. Among 472 patients treated at Brigham and Women's Hospital for pituitary adenomas, each was assigned to 1 of the 4 predetermined subgroups: group A, 6.8%; group B, 30.1%; group C, 31.1%; group D, 32.0%.

We developed a risk stratification schema that may serve as a platform to streamline care to the patients at highest risk. The expert opinions presented provide a basis for future studies regarding the risk prioritization of patients.