Transsphenoidal surgery and adjuvant gamma knife treatment for growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma.

OBJECT: The results of combined transsphenoidal surgery and adjuvant gamma knife surgery (GKS) for growth hormone (GH)-secreting adenoma were investigated using biochemical cure criteria for surgery and biological cure criteria for adjuvant GKS. METHODS: Ninety patients (42 male and 48 female patients), ranging from 11 to 75 years of age, underwent transsphenoidal surgery for GH-secreting pituitary adenoma. Preoperative and postoperative GH and insulin-like growth factor-I levels were measured, as was the postoperative GH level after the oral glucose tolerance test. Tumor size, cavernous sinus (CS) invasion, and residual tumor were evaluated using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Transsphenoidal microsurgery was performed, followed by adjuvant GKS when there was persistent biochemical evidence of GH hypersecretion with residual tumor detectable in the CS on MR imaging. Patients in whom GKS was contraindicated were treated with conventional radiotherapy or by medical means. CONCLUSIONS: The overall surgical cure rate was 57% based on recently accepted biochemical cure criteria. Patients with no CS invasion achieved a 100% cure rate, whereas patients with CS invasion achieved an 82% cure rate (14 of 17 patients) after adjuvant GKS. The combination of transsphenoidal microsurgery and adjuvant GKS is the optimal therapy for patients with GH-secreting adenoma.     

Prolactin-secreting adenomas: the preoperative response to bromocriptine treatment and surgical outcome

Controversy exists regarding the effects of bromocriptine on the success of transsphenoidal surgery for patients with prolactinomas. Various studies on this drug have reported adverse effects, improvement, and no effect upon the subsequent surgical outcome. The authors have retrospectively reviewed the case histories of 55 patients with immunocytochemically confirmed prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas operated on by a transsphenoidal approach between 1981 and 1985. All patients had received bromocriptine in a variety of doses and for variable durations prior to surgery. Thirty-nine patients were women and 16 were men, with an age range of 8 to 72 years. Basal prolactin levels prior to bromocriptine treatment ranged from 38 to 100 ng/ml in 11 patients, from 101 to 200 ng/ml in 12, and greater than 200 ng/ml in 29. The "cure" rates were 54%, 58%, and 38%, respectively. Thirty-one patients had microadenomas, with a postoperative cure rate of 68%; 12 had diffuse expansive adenomas, with a 17% cure rate; and 12 had grossly invasive tumors, with a 17% cure rate. A response to preoperative bromocriptine therapy was defined as a return of the basal prolactin level to normal: 18 patients were responders and 29 were hyporesponders; in eight the data were not available. The postoperative cure rate was 50% for the responders and 31% for the hyporesponders. Taking into account the distribution of tumor type, there was no actual difference in outcome between the responder and the hyporesponder groups. The total bromocriptine dose received preoperatively was nearly identical for all groups. No significant differences in the frequency or extent of fibrosis, calcification, or prolactin immunoreactivity were observed in the 55 patients when compared with 26 control prolactinomas not treated with bromocriptine. It is concluded that short-term bromocriptine treatment does not adversely affect surgical outcome in any of the prolactin-secreting adenoma groups, nor does response or lack of response to bromocriptine predict surgical outcome.     

Thyroid-stimulating hormone pituitary adenomas and hyperthyroidism

Six cases of hyperthyroidism secondary to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-hypersecreting pituitary adenomas are presented (five females and one male). Hyperthyroidism presenting with diffuse goiter was associated with hyperprolactinemia in three cases. Elevation of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) plasma levels was associated with TSH levels ranging between 2 and 2,000 microU/mL. Polytomography and computed tomography scanning with coronal views revealed four invasive and two enclosed tumors. Two patients underwent transfrontal operations, four underwent transsphenoidal operations, and one underwent both. Two cases of enclosed adenoma were cured primarily by a transsphenoidal approach without additional pituitary deficit. In four cases of invasive adenomas, operations and radiation therapy resulted in three failures and one cure. In cases presenting with hyperthyroidism and detectable TSH, early neuroradiological studies are indicated, as biological cure can be achieved by the transsphenoidal approach. Early treatment is also advocated because of the tendency for these tumors to become invasive (four out of six tumors).     

Hyperprolactinemia in patients with non-functioning adenoma: analysis of 85 patients treated by transsphenoidal operation

Today, many gynecologists consider that the first choice of the treatment of prolactinomas is bromocriptine therapy. Because bromocriptine not only decreases the levels of serum prolactin but also reduces the tumor size. On the other hand, the patients with non-functioning adenoma sometimes show hyperprolactinemia, probably because PIF (prolactin inhibiting factor) cannot reach the normal prolactin-producing cells of the adenohypophysis. Therefore non-functioning adenoma with elevated serum prolactin levels should be distinguished from prolactinoma. Eighty five patients with non-functioning adenoma were treated with transsphenoidal operation at Hiroshima University Hospital, and Kansai Rosai Hospital from May, 1978 to March, 1981 and at Osaka University Hospital, The Center for Adult Diseases, and Kansai Rosai Hospital from April, 1981 to May, 1986. Non-functioning adenomas were diagnosed by clinical feature, endocrinologic examination, and immunohistochemical study. There were 42 male and 43 female patients, whose age ranged from 17 to 76 years (mean: 49). The most frequent chief complaint was visual disturbance (86%). Amenorrhea-galactorrhea was complained by 9 female patients. However, 7 of them had visual disturbance at the same time. Hyperprolactinemia was seen in 21 patients (30%). The highest serum level of prolactin was 163.2 ng/ml. All of the patients had macroadenomas. There were 2 invasive adenomas and 83 expensive adenomas in them. After operation, cure or improvement of the visual disturbance was noted in almost all the patients. The serum levels of prolactin were normalized in 16 of 17 hyperprolactinemic patients. In conclusion, transsphenoidal operation is the best treatment of non-functioning adenomas. However, it is difficult to decide before operation whether the macroadenoma with serum prolactin level between 100 and 200 ng/ml is non-functioning adenoma or prolactinoma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Transsphenoidal microsurgical management of Cushing's disease. Report of 100 cases

The development of transsphenoidal microsurgery and the refinement of endocrinological and radiological diagnostic procedures have afforded therapeutic options appropriate to the individual case in patients with hypercortisolism. The present series of 100 cases is derived from 104 patients with the diagnosis of Cushing's disease who underwent transsphenoidal pituitary exploration between 1974 and 1981. Excluding four patients in whom the pituitary gland was not exposed because of intraoperative technical difficulties, an overall cure rate of 78% was achieved. Among 71 patients with tumors confined to the sella turcica, 87% had correction of their hypercortisolism, 11% represented therapeutic failures, and one patient had tumor recurrence. In contrast, among 25 patients with extrasellar extension, correction of hypercortisolism was achieved in only 48%, 40% failed to respond, and 12% of the patients had recurrence. Four patients who failed to respond to total hypophysectomy have ectopic sources of adenocorticotropic hormone. The results indicate that transsphenoidal microsurgical exploration for a basophilic adenoma is the procedure of choice in adults and children with Cushing's disease. The diagnostic and surgical approach to these tumors, as well as pitfalls in the transsphenoidal treatment of Cushing's disease, are discussed.     

侵袭性垂体泌乳素腺瘤的治疗策略

目的 探讨侵袭性垂体泌乳素腺瘤的治疗策略.方法 纳入侵袭性垂体泌乳素腺瘤的标准是:(1)Knosp分级Ⅲ或Ⅳ级,即肿瘤侵袭海绵窦;(2)血浆泌乳素(PRL)9.1 nmol/L;(3)高PRL分泌症状或占位效应.符合上述标准者80例,其中单纯药物(溴隐亭)治疗21例,首选药物治疗结合手术和(或)放疗组21例,首选手术治疗结合药物和(或)放疗组(首选手术治疗组)38例.残留海绵窦肿瘤行伽玛刀治疗11例.结果 平均随访62个月,MRI检查肿瘤消失57例(71%),其中单纯药物治疗组12例,首选药物治疗结合手术和放疗组16例,首选手术治疗组29例.其余23例残留肿瘤均在鞍旁海绵窦内.PRL水平正常者52例(65%),其中首选手术治疗组31例,单纯药物治疗组10例.PRL9.1 nmol/L者7例.视力改善者33例,与治疗前一致者40例,恶化7例.垂体功能低下者9例.结论 对侵袭性泌乳素腺瘤,提倡以多巴胺受体激动剂为首选治疗的个体化治疗方案.手术后仍要服用溴隐亭并进行密切随访观察.海绵窦残留肿瘤可以行伽玛刀治疗.     

垂体微腺瘤的显微手术治疗

目的探讨垂体微腺瘤经鼻蝶显微切除手术治疗选择及手术技巧。方法回顾性分析2008年7月～2011年12月37例垂体微腺瘤经鼻蝶显微手术治疗的临床资料。肿瘤直径5～10mm29例,2～4mm8例。36例为功能性腺瘤,其中泌乳素（PRL）腺瘤18例,促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）腺瘤13例,混合型腺瘤1例,生长激素（GH）腺瘤4例;无功能腺瘤1例。结果术后无功能性腺瘤1例头痛症状消失。PRL腺瘤和混合性腺瘤19例中泌乳7／7例停止,闭经10／13例恢复,其中3／5例不孕患者术后36个月内怀孕。库欣综合征13例中症状明显改善10例,无效3例。GH腺瘤4例肢端肥大现象均改善。结论垂体微腺瘤显微手术治疗应结合临床症状、内分泌检测和MRI检查结果综合判断。功能性垂体微腺瘤经单鼻孔蝶窦入路显微手术安全,有效。其中PRL腺瘤手术效果明显,ACTH腺瘤手术应注意争取全切,必要时可考虑放射治疗。     

Transsphenoidal surgery following unsuccessful prior therapy. An assessment of benefits and risks in 158 patients

The authors report the results of a retrospective study conducted in an effort to define the results and risks of transsphenoidal surgery for patients whose prior therapy had failed. In a series of 1210 patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery during a 10-year period, 158 had received prior therapy: 127 for pituitary adenoma, 20 for craniopharyngioma, and 11 for other lesions. Prior therapy was considered "direct" when it consisted of craniotomy or transsphenoidal surgery (either open or stereotaxic), and "indirect" when it consisted of radiation therapy, adrenalectomy, or bromocriptine therapy. The current transsphenoidal operation was performed for persistent hyperfunctioning endocrinopathy in 63 patients, for visual loss in 72 patients, and for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea in 21 patients. Success rates were as follows: normalization of endocrinopathy was achieved in 35% of cases; improvement or stabilization of vision in 59%; and successful repair of CSF rhinorrhea in 74%. The risks associated with repeat transsphenoidal surgery are significantly greater than the same procedure in a previously untreated patient.     

垂体大腺瘤经蝶显微手术84例

目的总结经蝶入路治疗垂体大腺瘤的手术经验. 方法 1999年1月～2003年12月采用经蝶窦入路显微手术治疗垂体大腺瘤84例,其中经右侧鼻腔-鼻中隔-蝶窦入路74例,经唇下-鼻中隔-蝶窦入路10例. 结果手术无死亡.术后MRI复查显示,近全切除(>95%)56例(66.7%),次全切除(>85%)18例(21.4%),部分切除(<50%)10例(11.9%).4例部分切除,术后1周再次行经额或经翼点入路手术切除肿瘤.65例随访6～48个月,平均24个月,除3例复发接受放射治疗外,余62例均恢复良好. 结论经蝶显微手术治疗垂体大腺瘤是一种安全、有效的手术技术,术后放疗可以控制肿瘤复发.     

Role of surgery in the management of pituitary tumors

Growth characteristics and size, irrespective of endocrine activity, predict the nonendocrine clinical presentation of a pituitary adenoma. Anatomic classification by degree of sellar destruction (grade) and extrasellar extension (stage) has value in determining prognosis and in designing therapy, and magnetic resonance imaging provides optimal diagnostic information. The transsphenoidal approach is the preferred surgical technique for most pituitary adenomas and the treatment of choice for those secreting growth hormone (acromegaly) or adrenocorticotropic hormone (Cushing's disease, Nelson's syndrome) and certain nonsecreting tumors. Opinions differ on the initial treatment for prolactin-secreting adenomas; whether most patients should be treated medically or surgically and whether bromocriptine or irradiation should be reserved for surgical failures are still being debated. From experience in a series of 1813 pituitary adenomas, the author surveys tumors of the pituitary region and the role surgery plays in their management.     

Giant prolactinomas: clinical management and long-term follow up

OBJECT: Giant prolactinomas are rare tumors whose treatment and outcome has only been addressed in isolated case reports. The authors document the long-term follow-up findings and clinical outcome in a group of patients with giant prolactinomas. METHODS: This study is a retrospective chart and clinical review of more than 2000 cases of pituitary tumors treated at the authors' institution, of which 10 met the criteria for inclusion (prolactin level > 1000 ng/ml, diameter > 4 cm on neuroimaging studies, and clinical signs of hyperprolactinemia/mass effect). The average follow-up duration was 6.7 years after initial treatment with either bromocriptine or transsphenoidal resection. In more than 90% of the patients in this series the disease was controlled by medical treatment with bromocriptine alone; the other 10% required early surgery via transsphenoidal resection. All patients had improvement in visual symptoms. All tumors had extrasellar components, five of which exhibited frank invasion of the cavernous sinus. Tumor volume on magnetic resonance imaging was decreased on average by 69%; this occurred at a faster rate and in larger amounts when treated with bromocriptine than has been reported in the literature for macroprolactinomas. CONCLUSIONS: According to long-term follow-up findings, giant prolactinomas are exquisitely responsive to dopamine agonist therapy. In giant prolactinomas the prolactin level does not correlate with size. The main indication for early surgery is intratumoral hematoma, whereas our main indications for late surgery are cerebrospinal fluid leakage caused by medical treatment, or an increasing prolactin level despite medical therapy. Checking prolactin levels in suspicious sellar and/or suprasellar lesions may be diagnostic and prevent unnecessary surgery.     

Short-term preoperative treatment of macroprolactinomas by dopamine agonists

During a period of 3 years, 25 patients with intra- and extrasellar macroprolactinomas were pretreated with dopamine agonists for a period of 2 to 6 1/2 weeks prior to transsphenoidal microsurgical tumor resection. Dopamine agonists were administered orally to 17 patients, intramuscularly to three patients, and both orally and intramuscularly to five patients. Repeated computerized tomography (CT) examinations revealed that all neoplasms except one cystic tumor were reduced in size during the course of dopamine-agonist administration. No complications attributable to medical pretreatment were observed. Tumor shrinkage increased the efficacy of surgery, especially in cases with considerable extrasellar extension of the adenomas. Within 3 months following adenomectomy, prolactin levels were adjusted to normal levels in 19 patients by additional low-dose treatment with dopamine agonists. Thin-collimation CT assessments performed at least 3 months after surgery showed no evidence of residual tumor tissue in 23 patients. It is concluded that administration of dopamine agonists for some weeks prior to surgery is a useful adjunct to transsphenoidal microsurgery for macroprolactinomas. The new injectable form of bromocriptine is particularly valuable for this purpose.     

首选溴隐亭治疗侵袭性巨大泌乳素腺瘤的综合治疗

目的观察首选溴隐亭治疗侵袭性巨大泌乳素腺瘤（IGPs）综合治疗的远期疗效。方法符合IGPs诊断标准的患者34例,均首选溴隐亭进行治疗,其中11例同时配合放疗。服药期间根据肿瘤缩小后的残留部位、有无继续显著缩小、有无耐药等情况决定是否手术或立体定向放射外科治疗或二者联合应用。术后继续以小剂量溴隐亭维持治疗。结果平均随访33．6个月,33例患者症状显著改善,1例放疗后视力改善不明显。肿瘤体积平均缩小91．4％,泌乳素平均下降约97．1％,睾酮下降、皮质醇功能低下分别由治疗前的17例、10例降至6例、6例。溴隐亭治疗期间出现脑脊液鼻漏2例,1例自行缓解,1例行经蝶、开颅联合入路切除肿瘤、修补瘘口;4例出现不同程度的耐药现象。结论IGPs应首选药物治疗,部分患者仅通过药物治疗即可达到影像学上肿瘤消失的目的,大部分患者需辅助经蝶手术、立体定向放射外科治疗,可以明显缩短治疗时间、减少药物的用量甚至停药,但要慎行放疗。     

侵袭海绵窦的垂体腺瘤的临床特点及经蝶显微手术治疗

目的 报道侵袭海绵窦的垂体腺瘤的临床特点及经蝶显微切除手术的临床效果。方法 以1998年10月至2005年10月，对61例侵袭海绵窦的垂体腺瘤均采用经口-鼻-蝶窦入路，先切除鞍内、海绵窦内及窦旁发展的肿瘤，再切除鞍上部分肿瘤。结果 本组无手术死亡，近全切除29例，次全切除23例，大部分切除9例。视力、视野好转45例。6例术前动眼神经损伤症状全部消失。50例随访3个月-6年，肿瘤消失35例，少量肿瘤残留9例，可疑残留6例。结论 侵袭海绵窦的垂体腺瘤具有海绵窦内脑神经损害表现及内分泌变化显著的特点，应用显微外科技术经蝶入路手术切除可以取得良好的临床效果。     

Bromocriptine treatment of invasive giant prolactinomas involving the cavernous sinus: results of a long-term follow up

OBJECT: The aim of this study was to observe long-term clinical outcomes in a group of patients treated with bromocriptine for invasive giant prolactinomas involving the cavernous sinus. METHODS: Data from 20 patients with invasive giant prolactinomas at the authors' institutions between July 1997 and June 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. The criteria to qualify for study participation included: (1) tumor diameter greater than 4 cm, invading the cavernous sinus to an extent corresponding to Grade III or IV in the classification scheme of Knosp and colleagues; (2) serum prolactin (PRL) level greater than 200 ng/ml; and (3) clinical signs of hyperprolactinemia and mass effect. Among the 20 patients who met the criteria, six had undergone unsuccessful transcranial or transsphenoidal microsurgery prior to bromocriptine treatment and 14 patients received bromocriptine as the primary treatment. Eleven of the 20 patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. After a mean follow-up period of 37.3 months, the clinical symptoms in all patients improved by different degrees. Tumor volume on magnetic resonance images was decreased by a mean of 93.3%. In 11 patients, the tumor had almost completely disappeared; in the other nine patients, residual tumor invaded the cavernous sinus. Visual symptoms improved in 13 of the patients who had presented with visual loss. Eight patients had normal PRL levels. The postoperative PRL level was more than 200 ng/ml in seven patients. During the course of drug administration, cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in one patient, who subsequently underwent transsphenoidal surgery. No case of apoplexy occurred during bromocriptine treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Dopamine agonist medications are effective as a first-line therapy for invasive giant prolactinomas, because they can significantly shrink tumor volume and control the PRL level. Tumor mass vanishes in some patients after bromocriptine treatment; in other patients with localized residual tumor, stereotactic radiosurgery is a viable option so that unnecessary surgery can be avoided. The application of radiotherapy does not reliably shrink tumor volume.     

经蝶窦显微手术切除老年人垂体瘤

目的：报道经蝶窦显微手术切除老年人垂体瘤２４例临床疗效，探讨老年人垂体瘤的临床特点及治疗原则。方法：所有患者均在Ｘ线透视及手术显微镜放大５～１５倍下切瘤，术后有残瘤患者辅以溴隐亭治疗或加放疗。结果：肿瘤全切除１１例，次全切除８例，大部分切除５例，死亡１例，术后瘤床出血３例，随访６个月～６年，肿瘤消失１２例，残瘤静止４例，复发再手术２例。结论：经蝶窦显微手术切除老年人垂体瘤是安全、有效的，但要注意术后出血等并发症的防治     

促甲状腺激素型垂体腺瘤的临床诊疗特点

目的 研究促甲状腺激素(TSH)型垂体腺瘤的临床诊断和治疗特点.方法 回顾性分析2001年1月至2008年12月收治的19例TSH型垂体腺瘤患者的临床资料.男性14例,女性5例;年龄20～70岁,平均40.5岁;病程1～228个月,平均55个月.15例患者因甲状腺功能亢进(甲亢)症状就诊,其中12例被误诊为原发性甲亢并口服抗甲亢药物治疗,另3例入院后很快确诊.4例患者因头痛和视力视野障碍等肿瘤占位效应就诊.在12例误诊患者中,2例行131I放射性核素治疗,1例行甲状腺大部分切除.所有患者均行经蝶垂体腺瘤切除术.结果 病理均为垂体腺瘤,免疫组化TSH阳性17例,阴性2例,生长激素阳性2例,泌乳素阳性1例,促肾上腺皮质激素阳性1例.术后MRI显示肿瘤全切除15例,肿瘤残留4例.随访时间6个月～7年,平均3.6年.术后3个月内甲状腺激素水平各项均正常13例,其中2例3个月后复查TSH再次升高,但MRI未见肿瘤复发,行垂体放疗后甲状腺各项激素均正常.手术治愈率11/19,手术加放疗治愈率13/19.结论 对合并TSH升高的甲亢患者的筛查是提高TSH型垂体腺瘤的早期诊断的关键.治疗采用以手术治疗为主,垂体放疗和生长抑素为辅的治疗方法.     

促甲状腺激素型垂体腺瘤的临床诊疗特点

目的 研究促甲状腺激素(TSH)型垂体腺瘤的临床诊断和治疗特点.方法 回顾性分析2001年1月至2008年12月收治的19例TSH型垂体腺瘤患者的临床资料.男性14例,女性5例;年龄20～70岁,平均40.5岁;病程1～228个月,平均55个月.15例患者因甲状腺功能亢进(甲亢)症状就诊,其中12例被误诊为原发性甲亢并口服抗甲亢药物治疗,另3例入院后很快确诊.4例患者因头痛和视力视野障碍等肿瘤占位效应就诊.在12例误诊患者中,2例行131I放射性核素治疗,1例行甲状腺大部分切除.所有患者均行经蝶垂体腺瘤切除术.结果 病理均为垂体腺瘤,免疫组化TSH阳性17例,阴性2例,生长激素阳性2例,泌乳素阳性1例,促肾上腺皮质激素阳性1例.术后MRI显示肿瘤全切除15例,肿瘤残留4例.随访时间6个月～7年,平均3.6年.术后3个月内甲状腺激素水平各项均正常13例,其中2例3个月后复查TSH再次升高,但MRI未见肿瘤复发,行垂体放疗后甲状腺各项激素均正常.手术治愈率11/19,手术加放疗治愈率13/19.结论 对合并TSH升高的甲亢患者的筛查是提高TSH型垂体腺瘤的早期诊断的关键.治疗采用以手术治疗为主,垂体放疗和生长抑素为辅的治疗方法.     

促甲状腺激素型垂体腺瘤的临床诊疗特点

目的 研究促甲状腺激素(TSH)型垂体腺瘤的临床诊断和治疗特点.方法 回顾性分析2001年1月至2008年12月收治的19例TSH型垂体腺瘤患者的临床资料.男性14例,女性5例;年龄20～70岁,平均40.5岁;病程1～228个月,平均55个月.15例患者因甲状腺功能亢进(甲亢)症状就诊,其中12例被误诊为原发性甲亢并口服抗甲亢药物治疗,另3例入院后很快确诊.4例患者因头痛和视力视野障碍等肿瘤占位效应就诊.在12例误诊患者中,2例行131I放射性核素治疗,1例行甲状腺大部分切除.所有患者均行经蝶垂体腺瘤切除术.结果 病理均为垂体腺瘤,免疫组化TSH阳性17例,阴性2例,生长激素阳性2例,泌乳素阳性1例,促肾上腺皮质激素阳性1例.术后MRI显示肿瘤全切除15例,肿瘤残留4例.随访时间6个月～7年,平均3.6年.术后3个月内甲状腺激素水平各项均正常13例,其中2例3个月后复查TSH再次升高,但MRI未见肿瘤复发,行垂体放疗后甲状腺各项激素均正常.手术治愈率11/19,手术加放疗治愈率13/19.结论 对合并TSH升高的甲亢患者的筛查是提高TSH型垂体腺瘤的早期诊断的关键.治疗采用以手术治疗为主,垂体放疗和生长抑素为辅的治疗方法.

Abstract：

Objective To study the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and surgical effects of thyroid-stimulating hormone pituitary adenomas (TSH-omas). Methods The clinical data of 19 patients (14 female and 5 male) with TSH-omas were analyzed retrospectively in this study from January 2001 to December 2008. The patients ranged from 20 to 70 years old ( average 40. 5 years old) and had disease histories from 1 to 228 months (average 55 months). Among these patients, 15 of them complained of thyrotoxicosis symptoms, while the other 4 patients' symptoms were associated with headache and/or visual disturbance caused by the tumor mass effect. Initially, 12 of the 15 patients with thyrotoxicosis symptoms were misdiagnosed with Grave's disease. As a result 2 of them received 131Iodine, and one received subtotal thyroidectomy. All of these patients underwent transsphenoidal microsurgery. Results Average follow-up period was 3. 6 years (6 months-7 years). Pathological analysis of the surgical specimen showed pituitary adenoma in all patients, immunohistostains were positive for TSH in 17 cases, negative for TSH in 2,positive for growth hormone in 2, positive for prolactin in 1, and positive for adrenocorticotrophic hormone in 1. Postoperative MRI revealed that the tumors in 15 patients were removed totally, though 4 patients still had residual tumors. The thyroid hormone level tests suggested that 13 patients could be considered normal 3 months after their tumors were removed, though 2 of patients with normal postoperative MRI and thyroid hormones showed increased levels of TSH. For these 2 patients, tumors did not recur and their thyroid hormone levels returned to normal after pituitary radiotherapy. The cure rate was 11/19 after surgery and 13/19 after surgery plus pituitary radiotherapy. Conclusions The screening test for hyperthyroidism patients with high TSH levels is a key point to improve the accuracy rate in early diagnoses of TSH-omas. The transsphenoidal microsurgery is first choice to treat TSH-omas, while pituitary radiotherapy and somatostatin analogs are beneficially adjunctive therapies.     

促甲状腺激素型垂体腺瘤的临床诊疗特点

目的 研究促甲状腺激素(TSH)型垂体腺瘤的临床诊断和治疗特点.方法 回顾性分析2001年1月至2008年12月收治的19例TSH型垂体腺瘤患者的临床资料.男性14例,女性5例;年龄20～70岁,平均40.5岁;病程1～228个月,平均55个月.15例患者因甲状腺功能亢进(甲亢)症状就诊,其中12例被误诊为原发性甲亢并口服抗甲亢药物治疗,另3例入院后很快确诊.4例患者因头痛和视力视野障碍等肿瘤占位效应就诊.在12例误诊患者中,2例行131I放射性核素治疗,1例行甲状腺大部分切除.所有患者均行经蝶垂体腺瘤切除术.结果 病理均为垂体腺瘤,免疫组化TSH阳性17例,阴性2例,生长激素阳性2例,泌乳素阳性1例,促肾上腺皮质激素阳性1例.术后MRI显示肿瘤全切除15例,肿瘤残留4例.随访时间6个月～7年,平均3.6年.术后3个月内甲状腺激素水平各项均正常13例,其中2例3个月后复查TSH再次升高,但MRI未见肿瘤复发,行垂体放疗后甲状腺各项激素均正常.手术治愈率11/19,手术加放疗治愈率13/19.结论 对合并TSH升高的甲亢患者的筛查是提高TSH型垂体腺瘤的早期诊断的关键.治疗采用以手术治疗为主,垂体放疗和生长抑素为辅的治疗方法.