title: Transsphenoidal microsurgery as primary treatment in 25 acromegalic patients: results and follow-up.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: J W
authors: JW
authors: van't Verlaat
authors: J W
authors: JW
authors: Nortier
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Hendriks
authors: N J
authors: NJ
authors: Bosma
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Graamans
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Lubsen
authors: H F
authors: HF
authors: Vasen
authors: J H
authors: JH
authors: Thijssen
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Croughs
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D013006:Growth Hormone