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Updated: Aug 7, 2025
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Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
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Symptoms at presentation in conservatively managed patients with non-functioning pituitary adenomas
Ashley J Han1,2, Maria Fleseriu2,3,4, Elena V Varlamov5,6,7
1School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
Hormones (Athens, Greece)
|March 11, 2023
Summary
Non-functioning pituitary microadenomas (NFPmA) present with symptoms like headache and fatigue, similar to larger macroadenomas. These symptoms in NFPmA are not solely due to pituitary dysfunction or mass effect.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neurosurgery
- Oncology
Background:
- Non-functioning pituitary microadenomas (NFPmA) are rare but can cause non-specific symptoms.
- Understanding presenting symptoms is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the presenting symptomatology of patients with NFPmA to those with non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas (NFPMA).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 400 conservatively managed patients (347 NFPmA, 53 NFPMA).
- Analysis of tumor size, pituitary deficiencies, demographics, and presenting symptoms.
Main Results:
- NFPmA patients were younger and more commonly female than NFPMA patients.
- No significant difference in rates of fatigue, headache, or blurry vision between NFPmA and NFPMA.
- Lower rate of hypopituitarism in NFPmA (7.5%) compared to NFPMA (25%).
Conclusions:
- Patients with NFPmA experience significant headache, fatigue, and visual symptoms, similar to NFPMA.
- Symptoms in NFPmA are not fully explained by pituitary dysfunction or mass effect.
- Conservative management is appropriate for selected patients.
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