Purpose: To evaluate the incidence of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis and cerebrovascular accident in a series of patients treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for recurrent or residual pituitary adenoma.
Methods: All patients treated with single fraction SRS in our institution for recurrent or residual non-functioning-, growth hormone- and ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas were retrospectively identified and reviewed. A comprehensive literature review to identify studies reporting on ICA steno-occlusive disease following SRS for pituitary adenomas and compare the risks of carotid stenosis and ischemic stroke in the SRS treated group to the general population figures.
Results: 528 patients [312 women and 216 men; median age at SRS 46 years old (range 12-80 years)] treated with SRS at our institution met study inclusion criteria. Mean clinical and radiologic follow-ups were 68.87 (SD ± 43.29) and 55.99 months (SD ± 38.03), respectively, and there were no clinically evident cerebral ischemic events noted. Asymptomatic, post-SRS, ICA stenosis occurred in two patients. A total of eight patients with ICA steno-occlusive disease following pituitary adenoma radiosurgery have been reported. Two of them suffered from ischemic stroke with however excellent recovery.
Conclusion: As compared to the general population, SRS for pituitary adenomas does not seem to confer appreciable increased risk for ICA steno-occlusive disease and ischemic stroke. However, post-SRS radiation vessel injuries do occur and physicians should be aware about this rare event. Prompt identification and management according to current guidelines are essential to prevent ischemic strokes.
Keywords: Adenoma; ICA occlusion; ICA stenosis; Pituitary; Radiosurgery; Stroke.
© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC part of Springer Nature.