Niet-functionerende macroadenomen van de hypofyse: diagnostiek, behandeling en follow-up

- Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas are benign tumours characterised by the absence of hormone overproduction.

- Clinical symptoms are caused by the mass effects of the tumour. The main symptoms are pituitary insufficiency, visual field defects, vision impairment and headache.

- Treatment is unnecessary for tumours less than 1 cm, and an expectative approach can be used for some patients with larger tumours but no visual field defects.

- Transsphenoidal surgery is indicated for patients with visual field defects.

- Because nonfunctioning adenomas can recur, lifelong follow-up after treatment is necessary.

- Poor quality of life has been reported in treated patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas, which may be due to the intrinsic imperfections of hormonal replacement therapy.

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2008;152:792-6