Stereotactic radiosurgery as analternative to fractionated radiotherapy for patients with recurrent or residual nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate tumor control rates and complications after stereotactic radiorsurgery for patients with, nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas. METHODS: Between 1992 and 2000, 33 patients underwent radiosurgery for treatment of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas. Thirty-two patients (97%) had undergone one or more previous tumor resections. Twenty-two patients (67%) had enlarging tumors before radiosurgery. The median tumor margin dose was 16 Gy (range, 12-20 Gy). The median follow-up period after radiosurgery,was 43,month's (range, 16-106 mo). RESULTS: Tumor size decreased for 16 patients, remained unchanged for 16 patients, and increased for 1 patient. The actuarial tumor growth, control rates at 2 and 5 years after radiosurgery were 97%. No patient demonstrated any decline in visual function. Five of 18 patients (28%) with anterior pituitary function before radiosurgery developed new, deficits, at a median of 24 months after radiosurgery. The actuarial risks of developing new anterior pituitary deficits were 18 and 41% at 2 and 5 years , respectively. No patient developed diabetes insipidus. CONCLUSION: Stereotactic radiosurgery safely provides a high tumor control rate for patients with recurrent or residual nonfuctioning pituitary adenomas. However, despite encouraging early results, more long-term information is needed to determine whether radiosurgery is associated with lower risks of new endocrine deficits and radiation-induced neoplasms, compared with fractionated radiotherapy.