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Nonsecreting pituitary tumors.
1Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America
|September 1, 1987
Summary
Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas, often macroadenomas, cause mass effect or hypopituitarism. Alpha-subunit testing aids in diagnosing gonadotroph adenomas, with surgery as the primary treatment.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neurosurgery
- Oncology
Background:
- Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) constitute 25% of pituitary tumors, typically presenting as macroadenomas.
- Symptoms arise from mass effect or hypopituitarism, necessitating comprehensive evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline diagnostic markers and management strategies for NFPAs.
- To investigate the potential for hormone production in NFPAs.
Main Methods:
- Clinical assessment including structural imaging and pituitary hormone function tests.
- Serum alpha-subunit, LH-beta, and FSH-beta measurements.
- In vitro studies of tumor tissue for hormone production.
Main Results:
- Elevated or high-normal gonadotropins suggest gonadotroph adenomas.
- Many NFPAs show evidence of glycoprotein hormone subunit production in vitro.
- Some NFPAs exhibit ACTH production without hypercortisolism.
Conclusions:
- Transsphenoidal decompression is the preferred surgical approach for NFPAs.
- Surgery may improve pituitary function in some patients.
- Radiotherapy is indicated for residual tumors or extensive extrasellar extension.