Caracterización de tumores secretores de hormona de crecimiento de acuerdo al patrón granular y su rol en el pronóstico / Prognostic value of granular pattern of growth hormone secreting tumors

Background: Classification of growth hormone (GH) - secreting tumors by the granular pattern might predict their clinical behavior in acromegalic patients. There are several other prognostic factors. Aim: To compare the features at presentation and cure rates of patients with GH secreting tumors according to the granular pattern, and to define independent prognostic factors for surgical treatment in these patients. Material and Methods: A retrospective, observational study of 85 active acromegalic patients surgically treated in two medical centers. Results: Seventy-four patients (87%) were classified as having densely granulated (DG) and 11 (13%) as sparsely granulated (SG) tumors. The latter were less active biochemically, had a higher rate of macroadenoma and cavernous sinus invasion and had a lower rate of biochemical cure than the DG group. Several characteristics were associated with disease persistence but only age (Odds ratio (OR) = 0.93) and cavernous sinus invasion (OR = 21.7) were independently associated in the logistic regression model. Conclusions: The sparsely granulated pattern is associated with a more aggressive behavior, but the main determinants of prognosis are age and cavernous sinus invasion.

Criterios para la indicación selectiva de glucocorticoides en pacientes con tumores hipofisiarios sometidos a cirugía transesfenoidal / Selective use of glucocorticoids during the perioperative period of transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumors

Background: There is consensus in promoting the selective use of glucocorticoids (GC) in the peri-operative period of transsphenoidal surgery (TE) for pituitary adenomas (PA). Aim: To evaluate the safety of a selective glucocorticoid administration protocol and the usefulness of immediate postoperative cortisol levels as a predictor of final eucortisolism. Patients and Methods: Clinical and biochemical data from 40 patients aged 27 to 78 years (65% males) were prospectively collected. Exclusion criteria were previous use of GC, apoplexy and Cushing disease. Patients with pre-operative short synthetic ACTH test (SST) > 18 µg/dl or basal cortisol > 15 µg/dl did not receive GC. A morning serum cortisol (SC) threshold of 10 µg/dl in postoperative days one to three was used to decide a discharge without GC. Hypotension, dizziness or nausea, requirement of increased dose of corticosteroids, hospitalizations and emergency service visits were investigated, as well as surgical and endocrinological complications. Corticotropic status was evaluated three months after surgery. Results: Macroadenomas were present in 87% of patients. Median hospital stay was 4 days and follow up lasted 9 months. No differences were found in gender, age or tumor size between patients who received or not GC (35 and 65% respectively). Eighty five percent of patients were discharged without GC and all of them had normal corticotropic function three months after surgery. A SC ≥ 15 µg/dl had 100% specificity to predict eucortisolism. Conclusions: Selective glucocorticoid administration is safe. A normal corticotropic function before surgery and in the immediate postoperative period are useful to identify patients who do not need GC.