The efficacy of fractionated radiotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery for pituitary adenomas: Long-term results of 125 consecutive patients treated in a single institution

• Published in: Cancer Vol. 110; no. 4; pp. 854 - 860
• Main Authors: KONG, Doo-Sik, LEE, Jung-Ii, DO HOON LIM, KWANG WON KIM, HYUNG JIN SHIN, NAM, Do-Hyun, PARK, Kwan, JONG HYUN KIM
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Wiley-Liss 15.08.2007
• Subjects: Adenoma - pathology; Adenoma - radiotherapy; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Dose Fractionation; Endocrinopathies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Humans; Hypopituitarism - etiology; Hypopituitarism - therapy; Hypothalamus. Hypophysis. Epiphysis (diseases); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Non tumoral diseases. Target tissue resistance. Benign neoplasms; Pituitary Neoplasms - pathology; Pituitary Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Radiosurgery - adverse effects; Radiosurgery - methods; Remission Induction; Retrospective Studies; Survival Analysis; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Tumor Burden; Tumors; Endocrinopathy; Human; Relapse; Treatment efficiency; Radiosurgery; Radiotherapy; Long term; recurrence; Cancerology; Treatment; Surgery; Pituitary diseases; Pituitary adenoma
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.22860

The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to define the efficacy and safety of fractionated radiotherapy (FRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for the treatment of patients with pituitary adenoma. Between January 1995 and April 2006, 125 consecutive patients with pituitary adenomas (54 hormone-secreting adenomas and 71 nonsecretory adenomas) received FRT or underwent SRS. Sixty-four patients received FRT, for which the mean total dose was 50.4 grays (Gy) (range, 48-54 Gy), and 61 patients underwent gamma-knife SRS with mean marginal dose of 25.1 Gy (range, 9-30 Gy). After mean follow up of 36.7 months, the tumor volume was increased in only 4 patients (3.2%). The overall actuarial progression-free survival rate was 99% at 2 years and 97% at 4 years. No difference was observed between the FRT group and the SRS group in the control of tumor growth. Based on the endocrinologic results in the patients who had secretory adenomas, the overall hormone complete remission rate was 26.2% at 2 years and 76.3% at 4 years. The median time to complete remission was 26 months in the SRS group and 63 months in the FRT group (P = .0068). Hypopituitarism developed as a delayed complication in 11.5% of patients at a median of 84 months. Both FRT and SRS were efficient treatment modalities for the control of tumor growth in patients with pituitary adenomas. The current results indicated that single-dose radiosurgery more promptly produces an effect on the hypersecretion of pituitary hormones and may be recommended over FRT for suitable patients.