The epidemiology and management patterns of pediatric pituitary tumors in the United States

Pediatric Pituitary Adenomas and Cysts: A 46-Year Population-Based Analysis

Context

Pituitary adenomas and cysts are rare in pediatric patients and improved understanding can guide management recommendations.

Objective

To report incidence, presentation, management, and outcomes in a pediatric population-based cohort with pituitary adenomas and cysts, and to explore the relationship between these lesions and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) rates, as well as lesion size and headaches with disease progression.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients (≤18 years) with incident pituitary adenomas and cysts in Olmsted County, MN, from 1976 to 2021, 234 unique patients were identified using diagnostic codes through the Rochester Epidemiology Project, with 37 confirmed cases of pituitary adenoma or cyst included. Incidence rates were calculated using census data. Descriptive statistics were used for extracted clinical data.

Results

Incidence of pediatric adenomas and cysts was 2.29 cases per 100 000 person-years. Of the 37 cases, 68% were nonfunctioning adenomas or cysts, 27% were prolactinomas, and there was 1 each of growth hormone (GH)- and thyrotropin (TSH)-secreting adenomas. Median lesion diameter was 5.5 mm (IQR, 4.0-8.0). Median follow-up was 7.4 years (IQR, 4.5-15.4). Four patients had disease progression which stabilized with second-line therapy. Brain MRI rates did not correlate with lesion incidence. No clinically meaningful relationship was found between lesion size or headache and disease progression.

Conclusion

Pituitary adenomas and cysts are rare in pediatric patients. Most are small, nonfunctioning, and stable on long-term follow-up. Larger studies on small nonfunctioning pituitary lesions are needed to enhance understanding of their natural history and develop long-term management recommendations.

Clinical parameters and postoperative outcomes of pituitary adenomas in children: Analysis according to size of adenomas and adopted surgical procedures

Pathologies of pediatric pituitary adenomas are uncommon and challenging to diagnose. Pituitary adenomas cause mass effects and neurological disruption in children. Postoperative evaluations of endocrine functions are challenging. The present study categorized adenomas by size and type, and evaluated outcomes based on the surgical procedures adopted. In addition, the present study analyzed the demographic parameters of children as well as the factors supposed to be influencing remission. Clinical characteristics, treatment parameters and postoperative outcomes of curative surgeries in 135 children [80 (59%) females and 55 (41%) males; age 12 (11-13) years at the time of first diagnosis] with pituitary adenomas who underwent curative surgeries operated between 1998 and 2023 in the Yichang Central People's Hospital, (Yichang, China) were included in the present retrospective study. A total of 112 (83%) children had microadenomas (<10 mm adenomas), 6 (4%) had macroadenomas (≥10 mm adenomas) and 17 (13%) had invisible adenomas. Pathological examination revealed that 59 (44%) children had functional adenomas and 10 (7%) had non-functional adenomas. Among functional adenomas, acromegaly (excess secretion of insulin-like growth factor 1) was reported to be the most common [30 (22%)] pediatric adenomas, followed by prolactinomas [prolactin secretion ≥1,000 mIU/l; 20 (15%) and Cushing syndrome (9 (7%)]. A total of 23 (17%), 3 (2%), 4 (3%), 3 (2%) and 3 (2%) children were reported to have remission and underwent re-surgery. These patients (remission) underwent microscopic trans-sphenoidal resection, endoscopic endonasal trans-sphenoidal resection, trans-sphenoidal resection alone, bilateral adrenalectomy and gross total resection adopted curative surgeries initially, respectively. Postoperative diabetes insipidus, adrenal insufficiency and cerebrospinal fluid leaks have been reported in children who have undergone curative surgeries for macroadenomas or Cushing syndrome. Female pediatric patients with clinical manifestations were more likely to have pituitary adenomas. Pediatric patients generally have functional pituitary adenomas, particularly adreno-corticotropin-secreting adenomas. Microscopic trans-sphenoidal resection is associated with a lower risk of under-treatment. Postoperative outcomes and clinical benefits of curative surgeries are based on the complete type of surgical removal and size of the pituitary adenomas mass (Level of Evidence: 3; Technical Efficacy Stage: 4).

Racial/ethnic disparities in all-cause and cause-specific death among children with malignant central nervous system tumours: a registry-based cohort retrospective analysis

Background

It is generally recognized that there is unequal mortality in childhood central nervous system (CNS) malignancy in the United States (US), but little is known about the trends and contributors of racial/ethnic disparities in death. We assessed the trends of racial/ethnic disparities in all-cause and cause-specific death, and the contributions of tumour, treatment and socioeconomic factors to this disparity.

Methods

This registry-based cohort study included children (aged ≤19 years) diagnosed with malignant CNS tumours, using data from the US population-based cancer registry in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. The clinical outcomes were all-cause and cause-specific death for each racial/ethnic group (White, Black, Hispanic, non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander [API], and non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native [AI/AN] children). We quantified absolute disparities using absolute rate difference in 5-year cumulative incidence of death. Cox proportion risk models were used to estimate the relative racial/ethnic disparities, and the contribution of factors to disparities in death.

Findings

In this study, data from 14,510 children with malignant CNS tumours (mean [SD] age, 8.5 [5.7]; 7988 [55.1%] male) were analysed. Overall, the cumulative incidence of death from CNS tumours across four racial/ethnic groups decreased from 2001 to 2020. Black patients had the highest risk of death from all causes and CNS tumours between 2001 and 2020, with adjusted hazard ratios (HR) of 1.52 (1.38-1.68) and 1.47 (1.31-1.64), respectively. The absolute disparity in all-cause death between Hispanic and White patients increased slightly (from 8.2 percentage points [ppt] to 9.4 ppt), and the relative disparity in death from CNS tumours increased from 1.33 (1.15-1.55) in 2001-2005 to 1.78 (1.44-2.20) in 2016-2020. The absolute disparities in death from CNS tumours between Black and White patients (from 11.8 ppt to 4.3 ppt) and between API and White patients (from 10.1 ppt to 5.1 ppt) decreased from 2001-2005 to 2011-2015.

Interpretation

Race/ethnicity disparities in death from CNS tumours among childhood malignant CNS tumours had reduced from 2001 to 2020, and quantifying the contribution of factors to this disparity in death could provide a basis for decreasing mortality among racial/ethnic minority patients.

Funding

Shenyang Young and Middle-aged Science and Technology Innovation Talent Support Program.

Consensus guideline for the diagnosis and management of pituitary adenomas in childhood and adolescence: Part 1, general recommendations

Tumours of the anterior part of the pituitary gland represent just 1% of all childhood (aged <15 years) intracranial neoplasms, yet they can confer high morbidity and little evidence and guidance is in place for their management. Between 2014 and 2022, a multidisciplinary expert group systematically developed the first comprehensive clinical practice consensus guideline for children and young people under the age 19 years (hereafter referred to as CYP) presenting with a suspected pituitary adenoma to inform specialist care and improve health outcomes. Through robust literature searches and a Delphi consensus exercise with an international Delphi consensus panel of experts, the available scientific evidence and expert opinions were consolidated into 74 recommendations. Part 1 of this consensus guideline includes 17 pragmatic management recommendations related to clinical care, neuroimaging, visual assessment, histopathology, genetics, pituitary surgery and radiotherapy. While in many aspects the care for CYP is similar to that of adults, key differences exist, particularly in aetiology and presentation. CYP with suspected pituitary adenomas require careful clinical examination, appropriate hormonal work-up, dedicated pituitary imaging and visual assessment. Consideration should be given to the potential for syndromic disease and genetic assessment. Multidisciplinary discussion at both the local and national levels can be key for management. Surgery should be performed in specialist centres. The collection of outcome data on novel modalities of medical treatment, surgical intervention and radiotherapy is essential for optimal future treatment.

Childhood, adolescent, and adult primary brain and central nervous system tumor statistics for practicing healthcare providers in neuro-oncology, CBTRUS 2015-2019

Background

The Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Cancer Institute (NCI), is the largest aggregation of histopathology-specific population-based data for primary brain and other central nervous system (CNS) in the US. CBTRUS publishes an annual statistical report which provides critical reference data for the broad neuro-oncology community. Here, we summarize the key findings from the 2022 CBTRUS annual statistical report for healthcare providers.

Methods

Incidence data were obtained from the CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program for 52 central cancer registries (CCRs). Survival data were obtained from 42 NPCR CCRs. All rates are per 100 000 and age-adjusted using the 2000 US standard population. Overall median survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier models. Survival data for selected molecularly defined histopathologies are from the National Cancer Database. Mortality data are from the National Vital Statistics System.

Results

The average annual age-adjusted incidence rate of all primary brain and other CNS tumors was 24.25/100 000. Incidence was higher in females and non-Hispanics. The most commonly occurring malignant and predominately non-malignant tumors was glioblastoma (14% of all primary brain tumors) and meningioma (39% of all primary brain tumors), respectively. Mortality rates and overall median survival varied by age, sex, and histopathology.

Conclusions

This summary describes the most up-to-date population-based incidence, mortality, and survival, of primary brain and other CNS tumors in the US and aims to serve as a concise resource for neuro-oncology providers.

Sellar and parasellar lesions in the transition age: a retrospective Italian multi-centre study

BACKGROUND

Sellar/parasellar lesions have been studied in the adult and paediatric age range, but during the transition age their epidemiology, clinical manifestations, management and treatment outcomes have been poorly investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An Italian multicentre cohort study, in which hospital records of patients with diagnosis of sellar/parasellar lesions during the transition age and young adulthood (15-25 years), were reviewed in terms of prevalence, clinical and hormonal features at diagnosis, and outcomes where available. Both pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (pituitary tumours, Group A) and non-endocrine lesions (Group B) were included.

RESULTS

Among Group A (n = 170, 46.5% macroadenomas), the most frequent were prolactin and GH-secreting tumours, with a female predominance. Among Group B (n = 28), germinomas and Rathke cells cysts were the most common. In Group A, the most frequent hormonal deficiency was gonadal dysfunction. Galactorrhoea and amenorrhoea were relatively common in female patients with prolactinomas. Pre-surgical diabetes insipidus was only seen in Group B, in which also hormone deficiencies were more frequent and numerous. Larger lesions were more likely to be seen in Group B. Patients in Group B were more frequently male, younger, and leaner than those of Group A, whereas at last follow-up they showed more obesity and dyslipidaemia. In our cohort, the percentage of patients with at least one pituitary deficiency increased slightly after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The management of sellar/parasellar lesions is challenging in the transition age, requiring an integrated and multidisciplinary approach. Hormone and metabolic disorders can occur many years after treatment, therefore long-term follow-up is mandatory.

Non-functioning pituitary microadenoma in children and adolescents: Is follow-up with diagnostic imaging necessary?

PURPOSE

No consensus exists regarding follow-up recommendations for suspected pituitary microadenoma in children. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the growth potential of pituitary solid and cystic lesions <10 mm in children and evaluated the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements.

METHODS

The children included were <18 years at first pituitary MRI and radiologically diagnosed with a non-functioning microadenoma or cyst <10 mm. Lesion size at first and latest MRI as well as all individual MRI examinations were re-evaluated.

RESULTS

In total, 74 children, median age 12 years (range 3-17), had a non-functioning microadenoma, probable microadenoma, or cyst. Of these, 55 underwent repeated MRI (median 3, range 2-7) with a median follow-up of 37 months (range 4-189). None of the pituitary lesions without hormonal disturbances increased significantly during follow-up. Two radiologists agreed that no lesion could be identified in 38/269 (14%) MRI examinations, and in 51/231 (22%) they disagreed about lesion location. In 34/460 (7%) MRI measurements size differed >2 mm, which had been considered significant progression.

CONCLUSION

Non-functioning pituitary microadenoma in children has small size variations, often below the spatial resolution of the scanners. We suggest lesions <4 mm only for clinical follow-up, lesions 4-6 mm for MRI after 2 years and ≥7 mm MRI after 1 and 3 years, with clinical follow-up in between. If no progression, further MRI should only be performed after new clinical symptoms or hormonal disturbances.

The Influence of Facility Volume and Type on Skull Base Chordoma Treatment and Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the influence of facility case volume and type on skull base chordoma treatment and overall survival (OS).

METHODS

The 2004-2016 National Cancer Database was queried for skull base chordoma patients receiving definitive treatment. Facilities were categorized into 2 cohorts by calculating the mean number of patients treated per facility and using cutoff numbers that were 0.5 SD above and below the computed mean to separate the groups. As, by definition of the inclusion criteria, all included facilities treated at least 1 patient, low-volume facilities were defined as treating 1 patient, and high-volume facilities were defined as treating ≥7 patients; mid-volume facilities (facilities treating ≥2 but ≤6 patients) were excluded. Differences in treatment course, outcomes, and OS by facility type were assessed.

RESULTS

The study included 658 patients (44.8% female, 79.5% White). The 187 unique facilities were categorized into 95 low-volume facilities (treating 1 patient during timeline) and 26 high-volume facilities (treating ≥7 patients during timeline). Kaplan-Meier log-rank analysis demonstrated a significant positive association between facility volume and OS (P < 0.001) and an improvement in OS in patients at academic facilities (P = 0.018). On Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression after adjusting for sex, age, Charlson-Deyo comorbidity index, and insurance type, high-volume facilities and academic facilities were associated with a lower mortality risk than low-volume facilities and nonacademic facilities (P < 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher facility case volume and academic facility type appear to be associated with improved survival outcomes in treatment of skull base chordomas.

Management of prolactinomas in children and adolescents; which factors define the response to treatment?

PURPOSE

Prevalence, presentation and clinical outcome of prolactinomas vary in children and adults. In this study, we evaluated the clinical features and outcome of children and adolescents with prolactinoma to identify the differences from that of adults, and thus to establish the management strategies for this age group.

METHODS

Patients with prolactinoma diagnosed before 18 years of age from a single center in the last 20-years were included. Clinical and laboratory data, radiological findings and treatment outcome were evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight patients (23 female; 82.1%) with prolactinoma were included. Median age at diagnosis was 15.2 years (12.6-17.7 years) in girls, 12.9 years (12.0-16.7 years) in boys. First line treatment was cabergoline in 82% of patients and normal prolactin level was achieved with maximum dose of 2 mg/week in 78%. Surgery was required in 28% of patients. Adenomas < 13.5 mm responded conventional doses of CAB. Adenomas > 30 mm were drug resistant or required surgery. Adenomas between 13.5 mm and 30 mm with invasion/extension were more likely to have drug resistance. CAB had to be continued following surgery in all patients. One macroprolactinoma had an increase in size which was accompanied with increasing prolactin level.

CONCLUSIONS

All microprolactinomas responded well to DA treatment. However, all adenomas larger than 30 mm was resistant to CAB or required surgery. Probability of drug resistance and requirement of second line therapy were higher in adenomas between 13.5 mm and 30 mm with invasion/extension. Doses over 2 mg/week of CAB in drug-resistant patients may not provide additional benefit. The frequency of follow-up MRI could be determined based on prolactin levels and emergence of new neurological symptoms.

Epidemiology of common and uncommon adult pituitary tumors in the U.S. according to the 2017 World Health Organization classification

PURPOSE

To examine the contemporary epidemiology of adult pituitary tumors with a particular focus on uncommon tumor types, using the 2017 WHO Classification of pituitary tumors.

METHODS

Adult patients presenting with a pituitary or sellar tumor between 2004 and 2017 were identified from the U.S. National Cancer Database, with tumor type categorized according to the 2017 WHO classification. Descriptive epidemiological statistics were evaluated and reported for all pituitary tumor types and subtypes.

RESULTS

113,349 adults with pituitary tumors were identified, 53.0% of whom were female. The majority of pituitary tumors were pituitary adenomas (94.0%), followed by craniopharyngiomas (3.8%). Among pituitary adenomas, whereas 71.6% of microadenomas presented in females, only 46.7% of macroadenomas and 41.3% of giant adenomas did (p < 0.001). For craniopharyngiomas, 71.2% were adamantinomatous and 28.8% were papillary, with adamantinomatous tumors associated with Black non-Hispanic race/ethnicity (OR_adj = 2.44 vs. White non-Hispanic, 99.9 %CI = 1.25-4.75, p < 0.001) in multivariable analysis. The remaining 0.7% (n = 676) of pathology-confirmed pituitary tumor types were composed of: 21% tumors of the posterior pituitary, 16% chordomas, 11% pituitary carcinomas (i.e. adenohypophyseal histology with metastasis; herein most frequently to bone), 10% meningiomas, 8% germ cell tumors, 7% hematolymphoid (largely DLBCLs), and 4% neuronal/paraneuronal (largely gangliogliomas). Pituitary carcinomas and posterior pituitary tumors demonstrated a male predilection (62.2% and 56.0%, respectively), whereas sellar meningiomas predominated in females (84.1%). Age, race/ethnicity, tumor size, and overall survival further varied across uncommon pituitary tumor types.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide a detailed contemporary dissection of the epidemiology of common and uncommon adult pituitary tumors in the context of WHO2017.