Cabergoline treatment for surgery-naïve non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas

The treatment strategy of non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) includes surgery, radiotherapy, medical therapy, or observation without intervention. Cabergoline, a dopaminergic agonist, was suggested for the treatment of NFPA remnants after trans-sphenoidal surgery. This study investigates the efficacy of cabergoline in surgery-naive patients with NFPA.

Retrospective cohort study including surgery-naive patients with NFPA ≥ 10 mm, treated with cabergoline at a dose of ≥ 1 mg/week for at least 24 months. Patients with chiasmal damage were excluded. Data collected included symptoms, in particular visual disturbances, hormonal levels, tumor characteristics and size evaluated by MRI. Tumor growth was defined as an increase in maximal diameter of ≥  2 mm, and shrinkage as reduction of ≥ 2 mm.

Our cohort included 25 patients treated with cabergoline as primary therapy. Mean age was 63.3 ± 17.3 years, 56% (14/25) were males. Mean tumor size at diagnosis was 18.6 ± 6.3 mm (median 17 mm, range 10-36), and the average follow-up period with cabergoline was 4.6 ± 3.4 years. Out of the 25 tumors, five tumors (20%) decreased in size (mean decrease of 5.0 ± 3.0 mm), 12 tumors (48%) remained stable, and eight (32%) increased in size (mean growth of 5.0 ± 3.3 mm) with cabergoline treatment. During the first two years of cabergoline treatment, the median tumor size exhibited a reduction of 0.5 mm. Patients with an increase in tumor size had larger adenomas at diagnosis and a longer follow-up. Two patients (8%) underwent surgery due to tumor enlargement.

Primary treatment with cabergoline is a reasonable approach for selected patients with NFPAs without visual threat.