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Clinicopathological significance of baseline T2-weighted signal intensity in functional pituitary adenomas

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Abstract

Purpose

To assess baseline T2-weighted signal intensity (T2-WSI) of functional pituitary adenomas (FPA), and to investigate the relationship of baseline T2-WSI with clinical features, histopathological granulation patterns, and response to treatment in patients with acromegaly, prolactinoma and Cushing’s disease (CD).

Methods

Somatotroph adenomas (n = 87), prolactinomas (n = 78) and corticotroph adenomas (n = 29) were included in the study. Baseline T2-WSI findings (grouped as hypo-, iso- and hyperintense) were compared with hormone levels, tumor diameter, granulation patterns and response to treatment.

Results

Somatotroph adenomas were mostly hypointense (53%), prolactinomas were dominantly hyperintense (55%), and corticotroph adenomas were generally hyperintense (45%). Hyperintense somatotroph adenomas were larger in size with sparsely granulated pattern and tumor shrinkage rate was lower after somatostatin analogues (SSA) (p = 0.007, p = 0.035, p = 0.029, respectively). T2 hypointensity was related with higher baseline IGF-1% ULN (upper limit of normal) levels and a better response to SSA treatment (p = 0.02, p = 0.045, respectively). In female prolactinomas, hyperintensity was correlated with a smaller adenoma diameter (p = 0.001). Hypointense female prolactinomas were related to younger age at diagnosis, higher baseline PRL levels and dopamine agonist (DA) resistance (p = 0.009, p = 0.022, p < 0.001, respectively). Hyperintense corticotroph adenomas were related to larger adenoma size and sparsely granulated pattern (p = 0.04, p = 0.017, respectively). There was no significant difference in the recurrence with T2WSI in CD.

Conclusion

Baseline hypointense somatotroph adenomas show a better response to SSA, whereas hypointensity was related to DA resistance in female prolactinomas.

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Capa, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, 34090, Istanbul, Turkey

    Sema Ciftci Dogansen, Gulsah Yenidunya Yalin, Seher Tanrikulu, Sakin Tekin, Nihan Nizam & Sema Yarman

  2. Department of Pathology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Bilge Bilgic

  3. Department of Neuroradiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Serra Sencer

Authors
  1. Sema Ciftci Dogansen
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  2. Gulsah Yenidunya Yalin
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Correspondence to Sema Ciftci Dogansen.

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Dogansen, S.C., Yalin, G.Y., Tanrikulu, S. et al. Clinicopathological significance of baseline T2-weighted signal intensity in functional pituitary adenomas. Pituitary 21, 347–354 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-018-0877-3

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