title: Diagnostic problems and operative treatment of pituitary microadenomas.
abstract: Over an average observation period of 53 months 26 patients with endocrinological active microadenoma of the hypophysis (12 M. Cushing, 14 acromegaly) were retrospectively examined. Only in 11 cases did the CT-examination demonstrate intrasellar tumour expansion. Both the problems of and the criteria for CT-diagnosis of microadenoma were demonstrated. In 22 cases (84%) the microsurgical transsphenoidal exstirpation of the adenoma led to an adequate reduction in both ACTH and HGH. No postoperative deterioration of the other hypophysial functions was seen. It could be further demonstrated that where the surgical therapy failed local radiation therapy with high voltage radiation of the hypophysis region led to a reduction of the abnormal hormone secretion. The comparism of our results with those reported in the literature led us to suggest a combined therapy concept in which the indication for operative, conservative and radiation therapy is delineated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital GHS Essen Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rauhut
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehdorn
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benker
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000601:surgery; D000236:Adenoma / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D000308:Adrenocortical Hyperfunction / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D001971:Bromocriptine