Stephanie Kim Cheok, Samon Tavakoli-Sabour, Ryan T Beck, Nathan Zwagerman, Adriana Ioachimescu
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: Acromegaly is characterized by an insidious clinical presentation and delayed diagnosis. Longer delays are associated with more comorbidities which can persist after treatment of the growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma (GH-PA). Surgery is the primary therapy of GH-secreting PA, which can lead to durable remission. However, approximately 50% of patients require medical treatment postoperatively. Survival normalizes after achieving biochemical control. This mini-review will address ends of the spectrum challenges in acromegaly, including delayed diagnosis and management of the residual tumor and persistent comorbidities.
Methods: We synthesize relevant literature and present a case of acromegaly that highlights the complexity of clinical decision-making in the diagnosis and treatment of persistent acromegaly.
Results: Despite improved biochemical assays, most patients with acromegaly are diagnosed on average five years after initial symptoms. A high index of suspicion does not rely exclusively on acral enlargement, but also a constellation of manifestations and comorbidities suggestive of acromegaly. Medical therapy is required in patients with persistent biochemical disease. Somatostatin receptor ligands are the cornerstone of medical treatment and can be used alone or in combination with dopamine agonists and growth hormone receptor antagonists. Improved options of medical treatment and careful consideration of comorbidities enables individualized patient management. Reoperation and radiation are considered for tumor progression despite medical therapy. In rare cases of resistant and aggressive tumors, neuro-oncology expertise is required.
Conclusions: Increased awareness through education targeting the multifaceted clinical presentation of acromegaly shortens the time to diagnosis and treatment. Multidisciplinary management by specialists increases the likelihood of biochemical and tumor control.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Neuro-Oncology is a multi-disciplinary journal encompassing basic, applied, and clinical investigations in all research areas as they relate to cancer and the central nervous system. It provides a single forum for communication among neurologists, neurosurgeons, radiotherapists, medical oncologists, neuropathologists, neurodiagnosticians, and laboratory-based oncologists conducting relevant research. The Journal of Neuro-Oncology does not seek to isolate the field, but rather to focus the efforts of many disciplines in one publication through a format which pulls together these diverse interests. More than any other field of oncology, cancer of the central nervous system requires multi-disciplinary approaches. To alleviate having to scan dozens of journals of cell biology, pathology, laboratory and clinical endeavours, JNO is a periodical in which current, high-quality, relevant research in all aspects of neuro-oncology may be found.