Psychological burden in patients with sellar masses under conservative and surgical management

The aim of this study was to investigate the level of distress and the quality of life of operated and non-operated patients with pituitary tumors. Patients who presented to a neurosurgical center and two endocrinological services for outpatient follow-up after surgical treatment, as well as those under medical therapy or radiological follow-up without treatment, were invited to participate in the study. Sociodemographic, health-related quality of life and clinical data were assessed. Psychosocial factors were measured using the Distress Thermometer (DT), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Short Form (SF-36), and the Sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT). Thirty-two postoperative patients and thirty conservatively managed patients (n = 21 under medical treatment, n = 9 watch and wait), mean age 53, SD 19; 56% female participated in the study. Prolactinomas (35%) and non-functioning pituitary adenomas (21%) were the most common findings. There were no significant differences between conservative and operative groups in mean DT score (4.7 (SD 2.45) vs. 4.9 (SD 3.0), p = 0.61), HADS anxiety score (6.4 (SD 3.9) vs. 6.0 (SD 4.3), p = 0.76) or depression score (5.7 (SD 4.8) vs. 4.6 (SD 3.6), p = 0.50). For patients with ACTH-producing adenomas, the mean anxiety score was significantly higher (10.3 (SD 1.9) vs. 5.9 (SD 4.0), p = 0.03). The SNOT score correlated significantly with the DT, HADS-A, and HADS-D scores and therefore was associated with higher psychological distress. The level of self-reported distress in patients with sellar processes was not associated with a specific treatment strategy. ACTH-producing adenomas and manifest nasal symptoms were associated with higher psychological distress.