Transsphenoidal microsurgery as primary treatment in 25 acromegalic patients: results and follow-up.
Twenty-five patients with acromegaly were treated by transsphenoidal microsurgery. Fourteen patients (56%) were considered cured according to the following criteria: a. basal plasma GH less than 10 mU/l; b. glucose suppressed plasma GH less than or equal to 4 mU/l, and c. disappearance of TRH responsiveness if present preoperatively. Thirteen of the cured patients were re-evaluated after a mean follow-up period of 3.5 years (range 1.5 to 5.5 years). At that time, basal plasma GH was still less than 10 mU/l and glucose suppressed plasma GH was still less than or equal to 4 mU/l in all patients, indicating the practical value of our criteria. The remaining 11 patients (44%) received additional treatment by external pituitary irradiation and bromocriptine. Owing to surgery, 5 patients (20%) developed partial or panhypopituitarism.
van't Verlaat
J W
JW
Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Nortier
J W
JW
Hendriks
M J
MJ
Bosma
N J
NJ
Graamans
K
K
Lubsen
H
H
Vasen
H F
HF
Thijssen
J H
JH
Croughs
R J
RJ
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D000236:Adenoma / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications
D013006:Growth Hormone