Review: Pituitary adenomas in children and adolescents

J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2010 May;23(5):427-31. doi: 10.1515/jpem.2010.072.

Abstract

Clinical manifestations and outcomes of pituitary adenomas in children are not clearly defined. We retrospectively reviewed cases of pituitary adenomas in children 0-18 years treated at MassGeneral Hospital for Children over 15 years. Thirty-five patients were identified. Age at presentation was 7-18 years. Seventeen had prolactinomas, 3 had somatotropinomas, and 15 had Cushing disease. Thirteen prolactinoma patients were female and most commonly presented with oligomenorrhea (10/13) and galactorrhea (7/13). Nine were successfully treated medically. Two somatotropinoma patients presented with visual disturbances; the third was an incidental finding. Two were cured by trans-sphenoidal surgery (TSS). Thirteen Cushing disease patients were initially cured by TSS; six recurred after 3-6 years. Patients with or without recurrence did not differ for age, tumor-size and hormone levels. The high recurrence rate of Cushing disease in our series (46%) compared with adults treated surgically at this institution (7%) emphasizes the need for long-term follow-up.

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / pathology*
  • Adenoma / therapy
  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion / pathology
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / therapy
  • Prolactinoma / pathology
  • Retrospective Studies