Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Repeat surgery after tumor recurrence after pituitary adenoma resection can be challenging due to formation of scar tissue and loss of surgical landmarks, which can lead to increased rates of postoperative complications. Identification of clinical predictors of tumor recurrence would allow for appropriate stratification of patients to optimize preoperative counseling and postoperative management. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 349 patients who underwent pituitary adenoma resection at Johns Hopkins Hospital between 2003 and 2017. We used unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression to identify predictors of tumor recurrence. Factors which were associated with tumor recurrence in univariable models (p< 0.1), were included in our multivariable model. Factors that remained significantly associated with tumor recurrence (p< 0.05) in our multivariable model were considered predictors of recurrence. RESULTS: 59 (16.9%) patients developed tumor recurrence at the time of our study. Patients who had surgery through one nare, transcranial surgery, visual field deficit, larger tumor volume, bilateral cavernous sinus invasion, carotid artery invasion, and postoperative cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leak were more likely to have tumor recurrence. Conversely, patients who are younger in age, had sphenoid packing, and gross total resection were less likely to have tumor recurrence. In our multivariable model, only age (adjusted odds ratio[aOR]: 0.96), surgery through one nare (aOR: 2.05), gross total resection(aOR: 0.21), and presence of CSF leak(aOR: 4.43) remained significantly associated with tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: We identified several predictors of tumor recurrence after pituitary adenoma resection. Notably, having gross total resection of the primary tumor had the most significant protective effect on tumor recurrence. Given the increased complication associated with repeat surgery, gross total resection should be attempted in all patients, if feasible. Patients with other predictors of tumor recurrence should be monitored more frequently to allow for early detection of recurrence to optimize treatment strategies.