Pituitary Apoplexy: Description of Medical and Surgical Treatment and Clinical, Visual, and Endocrinological Outcomes During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and Over Three Years.

INTRODUCTION

Pituitary apoplexy (PA) is a rare neuroendocrinological emergency. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic recommendations led to a shift in the management of patients with pituitary diseases, especially in the decision-making between conservative and surgical treatment of patients with PA.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe the conservative and surgical treatment and the clinical, visual, and endocrinological outcomes in patients with PA at the Pituitary Center of Excellence (PTCEO) during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and within three years.

METHODS

This is a cohort study. Patients with PA between April 2020 and September 2023 were followed up. Treatment decisions, clinical manifestations, hormonal profile, and tumor size with MRI were described at the onset, at three months, six months, one year, two years, and three years after diagnosis.

RESULTS

A total of 27 patients with PA diagnosis were included in the study. Of these, 12 patients were conservatively treated, six (50%) had prolactinomas, five (41.6%) had non-functioning adenomas, and one (8.3%) had pituicytoma. Fifteen patients were surgically intervened during the first hospitalization, nine (60%) had non-functioning adenomas, four (26.6%) had prolactinomas, one (6.6%) had ACTH-producing adenoma, and one (6.6%) had gonadotropinoma. Two patients from the conservatively treated group (one non-functioning adenoma and one pituicytoma) were intervened surgically at years 2 and 3, respectively. During the initial assessment, there were no statistically significant differences between patients in visual acuity (9 [75%] vs 15 [100%]), visual field affection (8 [66.6%] vs 11 [73.3%]), and cranial nerve deficit (3 [25%] vs 6 [40%]). At six months follow-up, no statistically significant differences were found in the visual acuity improvement (8 [88%] vs 11 [100%]), visual field (8 [100%] vs 8 [72%]), and cranial nerve deficit between the two groups (3 [100%] vs 6 [100%]). Meanwhile, the average length of in-hospital stay was 1.5 vs 10 days (p = 0.019). The tumor size and largest diameter were smaller in the surgically treated group (6.2 vs. 0.5 cm, p = 0.029 and 2.5 vs. 1.1 cm, p = 0.036, respectively). Visual acuity improved in nine (58.3%) patients at year 1: two (40%) conservative vs seven (100%) surgical (p = 0.039); six (85.7%) patients at year 2: two (66.6%) conservative vs. four (100%) surgical; and three (100%) patients on both groups at year 3. Fourteen patients needed hormonal substitution: 87.5% (eight [88.8%] conservative vs six [85.7%] surgical) at year 1, 85.7% (six patients in both groups) at year 2, and 80% (four conservative vs three [100%] surgical) at year 3. The thyrotropic axis was the most affected in both groups during the three years. During the first-year follow-up, six (85%) patients persisted with tumoral regression (2 [66.6%] conservative vs 4 [100%] surgical) and one (14.2%) patient from the medical group progressed. During the second and third years, 10 and three (100%) of the patients, respectively, showed the regression of the tumoral volume in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical, visual, and neuroendocrinological outcomes were similar in both groups of patients with PA during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In cases where the Pituitary Apoplexy Score (PAS) score does not surpass three points without neurological deterioration, conservative management can be considered an adequate option for treatment.