A study from France suggests surgery to remove pituitary tumours is safe and effective for elderly patients, even those with Cushing’s disease.
The research showed a low rate of complications in patients aged 75 and older who underwent minimally invasive surgery to remove the tumours, which often produce hormones.
The study, published in the journal Acta Neurochirurgica, highlights the growing number of elderly individuals facing pituitary disorders as the population ages. Up to 15% of older adults are affected by these hormone-producing tumours.
While surgery in older patients tend to have more complications, previous studies have shown that pituitary surgery complications do not significantly increase in patients over 65.
However, there is limited research on outcomes in patients aged 75 and older.
The researchers stress the importance of tailoring treatment strategies for patients over 75 to find the right balance between tumour removal and preserving hormonal functions.
The study in France examined 155 patients aged 75 and older who underwent pituitary tumour removal surgery between January 2008 and June 2022.
Most of these patients (96%) received minimally invasive surgery through the nasal cavities.
The study found that a single surgery successfully reduced tumour volume in most cases, with good disease control rates at two and five years.
Remission was achieved in most cases for patients with hormone-secreting tumours, even in those with Cushing's disease.
Vision problems were common among patients, but the surgery led to improvements or stable conditions for most.
Some immediate surgical complications were observed in a small percentage of patients, and there was one unfortunate fatality due to a blood clot.
This study confirms that pituitary tumour surgery is safe and effective for elderly patients, emphasising the need for individualised care for those over the age of 75.
