Microsurgical treatment of Nelson's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the etiology, diagnostic criteria and treatment of Nelson's syndrome.


METHODS
Twenty-three patients with Nelson's syndrome who were treated in our department over the last 19 years were analyzed retrospectively. Removal of adenoma by the transsphenoidal approach was done in 21 patients and by transfrontal craniotomy in 2. The follow-up period ranged from six months to nine years.


RESULTS
The incidence of Nelson's syndrome was 7.7% in a series of 300 patients with Cushing's  disease treated by microsurgery in the same period. Hyperpigmentation was relieved and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels decreased in all patients after tumor excision. Eight patients with visual disturbance improved after surgery. The curative and remission rates were 56.5% and 26.1%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Transsphenoidal microsurgical removal of pituitary ACTH adenoma is the first choice in the prevention and treatment of Nelson's syndrome. Regular follow-up examinations should be performed over a long time.
Xing
Bing
B
Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China. xingbingemail@263.net
Ren
Zuyuan
Z
Su
Changbao
C
Wang
Renzhi
R
Yang
Yi
Y
Hu
Yaofei
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009347:Nelson Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*