title: How should a nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenoma be monitored after debulking surgery?
abstract: Transsphenoidal surgery is the treatment of choice for nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas but is seldom curative. Tumour progression rates are high in patients with postoperative remnants. Therefore, long-term monitoring is necessary to detect tumour growth, which may be asymptomatic or manifest with visual field defects and/or pituitary dysfunction. In view of the generally slow-growing nature of these tumours, yearly magnetic resonance imaging, neuro-ophthalmologic and pituitary function evaluation are appropriate during the first 3-5 years after surgery. If there is no evidence for tumour progression during this period, testing intervals may be extended thereafter.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Hypertension, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center and the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. greenman@tasmc.heatlh.gov.il
authors.forename: Yona
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Greenman
authors.forename: Naftali
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stern
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome