Quality of life is decreased after treatment for nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenoma.
OBJECTIVE
Although a reduced quality of life (QoL) has been reported after long-term cure of functioning pituitary adenomas, the effect of successful treatment of nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenoma (NFMA) on QoL has not been fully addressed. Therefore, we evaluated a broad spectrum of QoL parameters in patients successfully treated for NFMA in our center.


METHODS
We conducted a case-control study.


METHODS
We assessed QoL in 99 adult patients (mean age, 61.9 yr; range, 24-86 yr) in remission during long-term follow-up after surgical (n = 99) and additional radiotherapeutic (n = 37) treatment for NFMA by four validated health-related questionnaires (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Multidimensional Fatigue Index, Nottingham Health Profile, and Short Form-36). Patient outcomes were compared with 125 controls and with age-adjusted reference values derived from the literature.


RESULTS
NFMA patients reported significantly impaired QoL in all questionnaires compared with the 125 controls and the age-adjusted reference values. All subscales of fatigue, assessed using the Multidimensional Fatigue Index (general fatigue, physical fatigue, reduction in activity, reduction in motivation, and mental fatigue) were impaired. The scores in the Nottingham Health Profile pointed toward reduced energy and affected emotional reaction. In several subscales of the Short Form-36 (social functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, role limitations due to emotional problems, and general health perception), NFMA patients reported a reduced QoL.


CONCLUSIONS
QoL is considerably reduced in patients after successful treatment of NFMA.
Dekkers
O M
OM
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases C4-R, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. o.m.dekkers@lumc.nl
van der Klaauw
A A
AA
Pereira
A M
AM
Biermasz
N R
NR
Honkoop
P J
PJ
Roelfsema
F
F
Smit
J W A
JW
Romijn
J A
JA
D000236:Adenoma / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires