Impact of postoperative pituitary tumor adrenal insufficiency and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on tumor recurrence.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed to investigate the impact of postoperative pituitary tumor adrenal insufficiency and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on tumor recurrence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The prospective study included 143 pituitary tumor patients as study subjects. Within 6 months after the operation, the study was planned to explore differences (if any) between the tumor recurrence rate of patients treated with hormone replacement therapy and the patients without hormone replacement therapy. Also, the relation of tumor reoccurrence was studied with pituitary tumor adrenal insufficiency. RESULTS: The age, gender of patients as well as the size of the tumor had no significant correlation with postoperative pituitary tumor adrenal insufficiency. Further, the short-term follow-up lasting for 0.5 to 2.5 years after the operation, the hormone replacement therapy of hydrogenation had no significant impact on tumor recurrence rate. CONCLUSIONS: The age, patient gender and the size of the tumor were not independent risk factors leading to postoperative pituitary tumor adrenal insufficiency. However, the occurrence rate of adrenal insufficiency of patients in high age group was higher than that of patients in low age group. Also, the occurrence rate of adrenal insufficiency of patients (whose one or several hormones dramatically decreased before the operation) was significantly higher than that of patients (whose hormone level did not decrease before the operation). So, the patients in high age group and whose one or several hormones dramatically decreased before the operation should be paid more attention to the condition of adrenal insufficiency and should be ready for hormone replacement.