Recovery of hypopituitarism in macroprolactinomas: a comparison of medical vs. surgical treatment. Results from a European multicenter study

Context Macroprolactinomas not only cause hypogonadism, but also other pituitary dysfunctions, like deficiency of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). While dopamine agonist treatment shows varying recovery rates of these insufficiencies, surgical outcomes are less studied, and a direct comparison between treatments is lacking. Objective To evaluate recovery of pituitary dysfunction in medically vs. surgically treated patients with macroprolactinoma. Design Retrospective multicenter study including 104 patients with macroprolactinoma (44 surgically vs. 60 medically treated) with at least two hormonal deficiencies before treatment. Results Before surgery, all patients presented with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, 25 (57%) with ACTH-deficiency, and 32 (73%) with TSH-deficiency. 10 months post-surgery, prolactin normalized in 25 (57%) patients, while 19(43%), 15 (60%) and 10(31%) recovered from hypogonadism, ACTH-deficiency, and TSH-deficiency, respectively. Before medical therapy, hypogonadism was observed in all patients, ACTH-deficiency in 31 (52%), and TSH-deficiency in 50 (83%). After 12 months under dopamine agonists, prolactin levels normalized in 36 (60%) patients, 25(42%) recovered from hypogonadism, 17 (55%) from ACTH-deficiency, and 14(28%) from TSH-deficiency. No significant difference in recovery rates between surgical and medical treatment for hypogonadism (OR 1.633, p = 0.338), ACTH-deficiency (OR 0.462, p = 0.319), or TSH-deficiency (OR 0.584, p = 0.339) was observed. Large initial tumor size was a significant negative predictor of recovery for all hormone deficiencies (always p < 0.05), while prolactin normalization was a predictor of recovery of hypogonadism (p < 0.001). Conclusion Both surgical and medical treatment allow for hormonal recovery in patients with macroprolactinoma, with no significant advantage for either approach. Initial tumor size and prolactin-normalization are predictors of recovery outcomes.