Cushing’s disease is an ACTH-producing pituitary adenoma, and the primary treatment is microscopic or endoscopic transsphenoidal selective adenectomy. The aims of the present study were to evaluate whether the early postoperative S-cortisol level can serve as a prognostic marker for short- and long-term remission, and retrospectively review our own short and long term results after surgery for Cushing’s disease.
Methods: This single centre, retrospective study consists of 19 consecutive patients with Cushing’s disease who underwent transsphenoidal surgery.
S-cortisol was measured every 6Â h after the operation without any glucocorticoid replacement. We have follow-up on all patients, with a mean follow-up of 68Â months.
Results: At the three-month follow-up, 16 patients (84Â %) were in remission; at 12Â months, 18 (95Â %) were in remission and at the final follow-up (mean 68Â months), 13 (68Â %) were in remission.
Five-years recurrence rate was 26Â %. The mean postoperative S-cortisol nadir was significantly lower in the group of patients in remission than in the non-remission group at 3 months, but there was no difference between those in long-term remission compared to those in long-term non-remission.
The optimal cut-off value for classifying 3-month remission was 74Â nmol/l.
Conclusion: We achieved a 95Â % 1-year remission rate with transsphenoidal surgery for Cushing’s disease in this series of consecutive patients. However, the 5-year recurrence rate was 26Â %, showing the need for regular clinical and biochemical controls in this patient group.
The mean postoperative serum-cortisol nadir was significantly lower in patients in remission at 3Â months compared to patients not in remission at 3 months, but a low postoperative S-cortisol did not predict long-term remission.
Author: Jon Ramm-Pettersen Helene Halvorsen Johan EvangPål Rønning Per Hol Jens Bollers levJon Berg-Johnsen Eirik Helseth
Credits/Source: BMC Endocrine Disorders 2015, 15:62
Published on: 2015-10-26
Filed under: Cushing's, Diagnostic Testing, pituitary, Treatments | Tagged: abstract, ACTH, adenoma, Cushing's Disease, endoscopic, pituitary, remission, serum cortisol, transsphenoidal |
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