OBJECTIVES: To describe the outcome of treatment of pituitary tumors at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital (USTH) in 2004-2008 in terms of achieving clinical improvement, hormonal control, and radiological cure and to determine the mortality and morbidity of patients during the immediate postoperative period.

METHODOLOGY: This is a retrospective cohort study. Clinical, ophthalmological, hormonal and neuroradiological findings were evaluated at baseline and after treatment. Hormonal control was defined as normalization of excess hormone production while radiological cure was defined as complete eradication of the tumor.

RESULTS: Data of forty one patients (23 males, 18 females; mean age: 42 years, range: 19-68) were reviewed. Majority have clinically non functioning tumors (n=17), followed by prolactinoma (n=12) and acromegaly (n=7). Eighty six percent were macroadenomas. Transphenoidal surgery (TSS) was the main treatment in 70% of patients (n=28) while dopamine agonist was used in another 28% (n=11). Diabetes insipidus occurred in 24% of cases. One patient died of hospital acquired pneumonia. Thirty one patients were evaluated after a mean of 1.4 years (range: 0.25 ???? 3.9 years). There was a decrease in visual disturbances (73 to 23%), headache (63 to 6%),signs and symptoms of hypogonadism (38 to 19%) and hypopituitarism (60 to 52%) before and after treatment, respectively. Hormonal control was achieved in 71% while radiological cure was achieved in 35%.

CONCLUSION: Improvement in clinical parameters and hypopituitarism were achieved after treatment. Hormonal control was achieved in majority of cases despite residual tumors. Surgery was carried out safely in most cases.

Pituitary Tumors