Research Article

Long-Term Health-Related Quality of Life of Surgically Treated Pituitary Adenoma Patients: A Descriptive Study

Table 1

The characteristics of the patient groups at the time of the 15D questionnaire. All patients were operated on at least once transsphenoidally. Percentages in all but the first row are proportions within the column. Mean follow-up time is the time from the latest operation. Hypopituitarism is deficiency of at least one adenohypophyseal hormone (other than GH). Multiple operations include possible pituitary re-operations or adrenal removal. Suppressive medications used are explained in the text. Hormonal status and medications reflect the situation at the time of the 15D questionnaire. NF: non-functioning, pts: patients, extirp.: extirpation, remiss.: remission, AHH: adenohypophyseal hormones, PA: pituitary adenoma, na: not applicable.

ACTHGHPRLNFTotal
n value95% CIn value95% CIn value95% CIn value95% CIn value95% CI

Number of patients (% of all pts)60.06(0.03–0.13)220.22(0.15–0.32)170.17(0.11–0.26)530.54(0.44–0.64)981.00
Demographics
 Mean age (yr)634.8(20.0–50.0)2245.0(39.0–51.0)1746.4(40.4–52.4)5360.0(56.2–64.2)9852.8(49.6–56.1)
 Male sex (%)10.17(0.03–0.56)120.55(0.35–0.73)50.29(0.13–0.53)270.51(0.38–0.64)450.46(0.36–0.56)
 Macroadenoma (%)20.33(0.10–0.70)160.73(0.52–0.87)110.65(0.41–0.83)531.00(0.93–1.00)820.84(0.79–0.90)
 Apoplexy as a first symptom (%)00.00(0–0.39)00.00(0–0.15)00.00(0–0.18)50.09(0.04–0.2)50.05(0.02–0.11)
 Visual defects pre-oper. (%)00.00(0–0.39)20.09(0.03–0.28)40.24(0.06–0.41)210.40(0.29–0.55)270.28(0.2–0.37)
Treatment
 Mean no. of PA operations61.0 (1.0-1.0)221.4(1.1–1.7)171.4(0.9–1.2)531.2(1.1–1.4)981.2(1.1–1.3)
 Craniotomy (%)00.00(0–0.39)40.18(0.07–0.39)40.24(0.06–0.41)40.08(0.04–0.2)120.12(0.07–0.2)
 Multiple operations (%)20.33(0.19–0.81)70.32(0.16–0.53)10.06(0.01–0.27)120.23(0.13–0.36)220.22(0.16–0.33)
 Radiation therapy (%)00.00(0–0.39)60.27(0.13–0.48)20.12(0.03–0.34)60.11(0.05–0.23)140.14(0.09–0.23)
Outcome
 Mean follow-up time (yr)66.0(1.1–10.8)227.8(6.1–9.5)179.4(7.5–11.2)534.7(3.6–5.7)986.3(5.4–7.1)
 Hormonal cure by PA extirp. (%)30.50(0.1–0.7)80.36(0.2–0.57)60.35(0.17–0.59)nanana170.38(0.23–0.5)
 Suppressive medication (%)00.00(0–0.39)90.41(0.23–0.61)70.41(0.22–0.64)nanana180.18(0.12–0.27)
 Complete hormonal remiss. (%)50.83(0.44–0.97)150.68(0.47–0.84)110.65(0.36–0.78)nanana310.69(0.22–0.4)
 Hypopituitarism (%)10.17(0.03–0.56)90.41(0.23–0.61)80.47(0.26–0.69)320.60(0.47–0.72)500.51(0.41–0.61)
 Mean no. of AHH's replaced60.6(–1.0–2.3)221.0(0.4–1.6)171.0(0.2–1.8)531.2(0.9–1.5)981.1(0.8–1.4)
 Diabetes insipidus (%)00.00(0–0.39)10.05(0.01–0.22)20.12(0.03–0.34)30.06(0.02–0.15)60.06(0.03–0.13)
 Visual defects post-oper. (%)10.17(0.03–0.56)10.05(0.01–0.22)10.06(0.01–0.27)40.08(0.03–0.18)70.07(0.04–0.15)