Reduction in sella turcica volume. An effect of long-term treatment with the somatostatin analogue, SMS 201-995, in acromegalic patients.

Ten patients with acromegaly were treated with the long-acting somatostatin analogue, Sandostatin (SMS 201-995, octreotide) for more than one year. Computerized tomography was performed before and on 4 different occasions during the treatment. Sella turcica volumes were calculated in nine patients and showed a gradual decrease in all, averaging 32% +/- 14.6%, P less than 0.001 at the end of the study, which is probably indicative of a simultaneous reduction in adenoma size.