Clinical, surgical, and endocrine outcome following treatment of posterior pituitary tumors: a retrospective cohort study.

Abstract

Purpose: This study evaluates the clinical presentation, endocrine dysfunction, surgical outcome, and long-term prognosis in patients with histologically confirmed posterior pituitary tumors (PPTs).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 19 patients treated for PPTs at a single center between 2000 and 2023. Data on clinical, endocrine, and surgical outcomes were collected and analyzed.

Results: The cohort included 3 pituicytomas (PCs), 8 granular cell tumors (GCTs), and 8 spindle cell oncocytomas (SCOs) patients, with a female predominance (58%) and a mean age of 57.2 ± 13.2 years. Symptoms leading to diagnosis were headache (31.6%), visual impairment (21%), and sexual dysfunction (10.5%). GCT patients had higher preoperative BMI (34.49 ± 5.72) compared to PC (22.12 ± 2.40) and SCO (24.74 ± 4.24) patients (p < 0.01). Postoperative BMI increased across all groups, with GCTs patients showing the steepest rise (p < 0.01). Endocrine dysfunction largely persisted or worsened after surgery, with limited recovery at follow-up. Surgical approaches included transsphenoidal (48%) and transcranial (52%), achieving gross total resection in 58% of cases. Tumor recurrence occurred in 16% of patients, all requiring adjuvant radiation therapy. Tumor-specific survival at 5 years was 100% with an overall survival rate of 80% where non-tumor-related comorbidities accounted for the observed mortality.

Conclusion: PPTs are rare tumors with significant endocrine and metabolic consequences. While surgical management is associated with favorable tumor-specific survival, persistent endocrine dysfunction and postoperative progressive BMI underscore the need for long-term follow-up and targeted interventions. These findings contribute to the understanding of PPT biology and support the development of optimized management strategies.