Acromegaly: otolaryngic manifestations following pituitary surgery

Preoperative and Postoperative Tinnitus in Patients with Sellar Masses: A Patient-Promoted Study

OBJECTIVE

Both tinnitus and sellar masses are common disorders in the general population and sometimes occur together. However, little is known about their relationship. We investigated the prevalence, clinical aspects, and impact of tinnitus in patients with sellar masses, and evaluated the effect of surgical tumor resection on these variables.

METHODS

A prospective, controlled, single-center study was conducted, including 57 patients (aged 53.1 ± 16.4 years; 47% male) and 29 of their partners as controls (aged 54.8 ± 14.9 years; 55% male). Participants completed a questionnaire consisting of case history items and the Mini-Tinnitus Questionnaire-Dutch version twice: 1 month preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

Prior to transsphenoidal surgery, 24/57 (42%) of patients and 8/29 (28%) of controls reported having tinnitus (P = 0.19). After surgery, the prevalence of tinnitus in the patient group decreased to 12/49 (24%), while 4 patients reported an increase in tinnitus. The impact of tinnitus on daily life remained low. No differences were found in the prevalence, characteristics, and impact of tinnitus before and after surgery compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we found no association between tinnitus and (resection of) sellar masses. However, as the decrease in tinnitus prevalence was more pronounced in patients than in controls, and tinnitus resolved in 1 patient after resection of a giant nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma, and worsened in 2 patients with perioperative bleeding complications, tinnitus may be associated with sellar masses in selected cases.

[Acromegaly in the differential diagnosis of hearing loss]

Acromegaly is a multifactorial neuroendocrine disease caused by hyperproduction of growth hormone (GH). In more than 95% of cases the reason of acromegaly the GH-secreting pituitary adenoma. In patients with this neuroendocrine disease, a slowly developing complex of symptom can manifest with concomitant pathological conditions, including auditory function disordersDiagnostic difficulties of acromegaly at the ambulatory stage determine the importance of doctor`s awareness in different medical specialties.Here we demonstrate a clinical case of the improvement of the auditory function due to combined surgical and medical treatment of a patient with the pituitary macroadenoma, acromegaly and hearing loss.Anamnesis features: a patient with an active stage of acromegaly and a pituitary macroadenoma measuring 57x35x32 mm with ante-, supra-, infra-, parasellar spread, (Knosp III(D), Knosp IV(S) noted a violation of auditory function. She was consulted by an otolaryngologist, sensorineural hearing loss on the right of the 3rd degree was diagnosed, on the left of the 1st degree. The patient underwent surgical treatment of pituitary adenoma, noted a significant improvement in auditory function in the early postoperative period. Six months later, repeated audiometry was performed, marked regression of hearing damage was noted.The case described by us indicates the reversibility of a rare complication of acromegaly - hearing loss and the importance of an interdisciplinary approach in the management of patients with this pathology.

Incidentally detected acromegaly: single-center study of surgically treated patients over 22 years

Acromegaly is a rare disease associated with comorbidities that are common in the general population. Most patients undergo screening for classic phenotypical (CP) or mass effect manifestations. By retrospective review of pituitary tumor surgeries performed between 1994 and 2016 (1836), we identified patients with acromegaly (112). Main presentations were: CP (43%), mass effect (26%), incidentally detected (ID) tumors (17%), and other (14%). We compared the ID and CP groups regarding prevalence, clinical, biochemical, radiological and histopathological characteristics, and postoperative outcomes. The prevalence of ID among all surgeries increased after 2011 from 0.6% to 1.9% (p=0.01), while prevalence of CP remained stable (2.8% and 2.33%, p=0.65). Almost half of ID (47.4%) presented with otolaryngological manifestations. The ID and CP groups were similar regarding age, gender, comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, hypopituitarism), tumor diameter and cavernous sinus invasion. Median insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and growth hormone (GH) levels were lower in the ID than CP (p<0.05 and p=0.07). Patients younger than 40 had smaller tumors in the ID than CP, while the opposite was true for older patients. The 3-month biochemical remission rates were similar (68% ID and 58% CP). A similar number of patients had normal IGF-1 at last follow-up (89.5% ID and 81.25% CP) after surgery alone and multimodality treatment. In conclusion, an increased number of patients with GH-secreting adenomas were ID in recent years. Education of physicians other than endocrinologists regarding presentation and comorbidity clustering may lead to an earlier diagnosis of acromegaly and improved outcomes.

Sleep and the GH/IGF-1 axis: Consequences and countermeasures of sleep loss/disorders

This article presents an up-to-date review of the state-of-the-art knowledge regarding the effect of sleep on the anabolic growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 (GH/IGF-1) axis. This axis is involved in learning and memory and neuroprotection at the central level, and in the crosstalk between sleep and the immune system, with respect to its anti-inflammatory properties. We also aim to provide insight into the consequences of sleep loss on cognitive capacities in healthy individuals and patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), regarding the mechanistic association with the GH/IGF-1 axis. Finally, this review examines the inflammatory/endocrine pathways that are affected by sleep loss, and which may consequently interact with the GH/IGF-1 axis. The deleterious effects of sleep loss include fatigue, and can cause several adverse age-dependent health outcomes. It is therefore important to improve our understanding of the fundamental physiology underlying these effects in order to better apply non-pharmacological countermeasures (e.g., sleep strategies, exercise training, continuous positive airway pressure therapy) as well as pharmacological solutions, so as to limit the deleterious consequences of sleep loss/disorders.

Extent of Surgery in Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Skull Base Approaches and the Effects on Sinonasal Morbidity

Background

Endoscopic transsphenoidal skull base surgery (ETSS) is now considered the criterion standard approach for resection of pituitary adenomas and other midline anterior skull base lesions. Normal sinonasal structures are resected during ETSS, which raises concerns for nasal morbidity and patient-based outcome.

Objective

To perform a surgical outcome assessment by examining whether the extent of ETSS approaches affected patient-specific sinonasal quality of life as measured by the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22).

Methods

A single-center prospective cohort study of patients operated on by the same skull base team between 2012 and 2016. Patients with completed pre- and postoperative SNOT-22 were included. The primary outcome was SNOT-22 scores at preoperative, 0–1 month, 2–4 months, >5 months follow-up. Age, sex, tumor pathology, surgical procedure, and intraoperative cerebral spinal fluid leak repair were also obtained.

Results

Of the 249 ETSS performed, 148 patients (59%) had at least one completed SNOT-22; 45 (18%) met the inclusion criteria. Sinonasal quality of life based on SNOT-22 at the 0–1-month follow-up was significantly worse than the presurgical levels (p < 0.05). However, there was a return of SNOT-22 scores to preoperative levels at 2–4 months (p > 0.05), which was sustained at >5 months (p > 0.05). Factors such as the extent of ETSS, a previous nasal surgery, repair of an intraoperative cerebral spinal fluid leak, and the tumor pathology did not affect SNOT-22 scores at any follow-up intervals (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Sinonasal quality of life worsened after ETSS at 0–1 month follow-up but returned to preoperative levels at 2–4 months and remained at postoperative levels >5 months. Analysis of these data will allow us to educate our patients that the anticipated nasal morbidity after ETSS is usually only transient and should be expected to recover to preoperative levels.

Endocrine Glands and Hearing: Auditory Manifestations of Various Endocrine and Metabolic Conditions

The aetiology of hearing loss in humans is multifactorial. Besides genetic, environmental and infectious causes, several endocrine and metabolic abnormalities are associated with varying degrees of hearing impairment. The pattern of hearing loss may be conductive, sensori-neural or mixed. The neurophysiology of hearing as well as the anatomical structure of the auditory system may be influenced by changes in the hormonal and metabolic milieu. Optimal management of these conditions requires the integrated efforts of the otolaryngologist and the endocrinologist. The presence of hearing loss especially in the young age group should prompt the clinician to explore the possibility of an associated endocrine or metabolic disorder for timely referral and early initiation of treatment.

Anatomic Variations in Pituitary Endocrinopathies: Implications for the Surgical Corridor

Objectives/Hypotheses Functioning pituitary adenomas may produce endocrinopathies such as acromegaly and Cushing syndrome. Both conditions lead to characteristic anatomic variations as a result of hormonally induced abnormal soft tissue deposition. We evaluate the anatomic differences between acromegalics and Cushing disease patients and compare these dimensions to controls. Design Radiographic review of preoperative magnetic resonance images (MRI) of the pituitary gland. Setting Tertiary academic medical center. Participants Patients who underwent transnasal, transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas found to have acromegaly or pituitary Cushing between January 1, 2007 and September 1, 2015. A total of 15 patients with similar MRIs and no history of pituitary or sinonasal disease were selected as controls. Main Outcome Measures Dimensions assessed were intercarotid distance; carotid canal width; piriform aperture width; distance from the piriform aperture to the anterior face of the sphenoid; sphenoid sinus height, width, and length; angle from anterior nasal spine to anteroinferior face of sphenoid sinus; choanal height; and nasal cavity height at the level of the vertical segment of the middle turbinate. Sphenoid sinus pneumatization patterns were recorded. Results There were 30 acromegalics and 31 Cushing disease patients. When compared with controls, both acromegalics and Cushing disease patients had significantly wider piriform apertures and a longer distance from the piriform aperture to the anterior face of the sphenoid sinus (p < 0.05). Acromegalics had a significantly less acute angle (19 ± 3 degrees) from the anterior nasal spine to the sphenoid (p < 0.05). Cushing disease patients had significantly lower sphenoid sinus length and shorter nasal cavity height (p < 0.05). There were no differences in intercarotid distance or carotid canal width. Conclusions As acromegalics and Cushing disease patients have known anatomic variations, the skull base surgeon should be aware of these differences and adapt their techniques and approaches as needed.