The natural course of non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas

OBJECTIVE: The natural history of non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas (NFMA) has not been completely elucidated. Therefore, we evaluated pituitary function, visual fields, and tumor size during long-term follow-up of non-operated patients with NFMA. DESIGN: Follow-up study. PATIENTS: Twenty-eight patients (age 55 +/- 3 years) with NFMA, not operated after initial diagnosis, were included. RESULTS: Initial presentation was pituitary insufficiency in 44%, visual field defects in 14%, apoplexy in 14%, and chronic headache in 7% of the patients. The duration of follow-up was 85 +/- 13 months. Radiological evidence of tumor growth was observed in 14 out of 28 patients (50%) after duration of follow-up of 118 +/- 24 months. Six patients (21%) were operated, because tumor growth was accompanied by visual field defects. Visual impairments improved in all the cases after transsphenoidal surgery. Spontaneous reduction in tumor volume was observed in eight patients (29%). No independent predictors for increase or decrease in tumor volume could be found by regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Observation alone is a safe alternative for transsphenoidal surgery in selected NFMA patients, without the risk of irreversibly compromising visual function.