Objective: Diagnostic delay is high in acromegaly and leads to increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to systematically assess the most prevalent clinical signs, symptoms and comorbidities of acromegaly at time of diagnosis. Design: A literature search (in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science) was performed on November 18, 2021, in collaboration with a medical information specialist. Methods: Prevalence data on (presenting) clinical signs, symptoms and comorbidities at time of diagnosis were extracted and synthesized as weighted mean prevalence. The risk of bias was assessed for each included study using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data. Results: Risk of bias and heterogeneity was high in the 124 included articles. Clinical signs and symptoms with the highest weighted mean prevalence were: acral enlargement (90%), facial features (65%), oral changes (62%), headache (59%), fatigue/tiredness (53%; including daytime sleepiness: 48%), hyperhidrosis (47%), snoring (46%), skin changes (including oily skin: 37% and thicker skin: 35%), weight gain (36%) and arthralgia (34%). Concerning comorbidities, acromegaly patients more frequently had hypertension, left ventricle hypertrophy, dia/systolic dysfunction, cardiac arrhythmias, (pre)diabetes, dyslipidemia and intestinal polyps- and malignancy than age- and sex matched controls. Noteworthy, cardiovascular comorbidity was lower in more recent studies. Features that most often led to diagnosis of acromegaly were typical physical changes (acral enlargement, facial changes and prognatism), local tumor effects (headache and visual defect), diabetes, thyroid cancer and menstrual disorders. Conclusion: Acromegaly manifests itself with typical physical changes but also leads to a wide variety of common comorbidities, emphasizing that recognition of a combination of these features is key to establishing the diagnosis.

The definitive diagnosis of Cushing’s disease (CD) in the presence of pituitary microadenoma remains a continuous challenge. Novel available pituitary imaging techniques are emerging. This study aimed to provide a structured analysis of the diagnostic accuracy as well as the clinical use of molecular imaging in patients with ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome (CS). We also discuss the role of multidisciplinary counseling in decision making. Additionally, we propose a complementary diagnostic algorithm for both de novo and recurrent or persistent CD. A structured literature search was conducted and two illustrative CD cases discussed at our Pituitary Center are presented. A total of 14 CD (n = 201) and 30 ectopic CS (n = 301) articles were included. MRI was negative or inconclusive in a quarter of CD patients. ¹¹C-Met showed higher pituitary adenoma detection than ¹⁸F-FDG PET–CT (87% versus 49%). Up to 100% detection rates were found for ¹⁸F-FET, ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-TATE, and ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-CRH, but were based on single studies. The use of molecular imaging modalities in the detection of pituitary microadenoma in ACTH-dependent CS is of added and complementary value, serving as one of the available tools in the diagnostic work-up. In selected CD cases, it seems justified to even refrain from IPSS.

(1) Background: Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is characterized by hyperphagia, resulting in morbid obesity if not controlled. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether PWS patients show altered activation of brain areas involved in hunger. As a secondary objective, we assessed whether there is an association between these brain areas and several endocrine and metabolic factors in the fasting state. (2) Methods: 12 PWS adults and 14 healthy controls (siblings) performed a food-related experimental task after an overnight fast while brain activation in regions of interest was measured by functional MRI. (3) Results: In controls, significantly more activation was found in the left insula (p = 0.004) and the bilateral fusiform gyrus (p = 0.003 and 0.013) when the individuals were watching food as compared to non-food pictures, which was absent in PWS patients. Moreover, in PWS adults watching food versus non-food pictures a significant negative correlation for glucose and right amygdala activation (p_fwe = 0.007) as well as a positive correlation for leptin and right anterior hippocampus/amygdala activation (p_fwe = 0.028) was demonstrated. No significant associations for the other hormonal and metabolic factors were found. (4) Conclusions: PWS individuals show aberrant food-related brain activation in the fasting state. Leptin is associated with activation within the neural motivation/reward circuitry, while the opposite is true for glucose.

Objective: The primary aim of the current study was to objectify a spectrum of persisting subjective psychological complaints in patients with hypopituitarism, at least six months after normalizing of the hormonal disturbances. Also, gender differences on these outcomes were investigated. The secondary aim was to identify illness perceptions and causal attributions within this patient group. Methods: A total of 42 adult participants (60% females) with treated hypopituitarism once filled out a number of psychological questionnaires. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) assessed mood and the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) assessed well-being. Illness perceptions were identified using the Illness Perceptions Questionnaire-Brief Dutch Language Version (IPQ-B DLV) and causal attributions by using the Causal Attribution List (CAL). Patient outcomes were compared to reference values of healthy norm groups. Results: Participants scored significantly worse on the POMS depression, anger, fatigue and tension subscales, the SCL-90 psychoneuroticism, depression, inadequacy of thinking and acting and sleeping problems subscales and all subscales of the WSAS when compared to reference data. Women also scored worse on depression (HADS) and somatic symptoms (SCL-90). Compared to other illnesses, patients with hypopituitarism have more negative and realistic illness perceptions on consequences, timeline, identity and emotions. Participants attributed their complaints more to physical causes than psychological causes. Conclusion: Despite normalization of hormonal disturbances, patients with hypopituitarism in general can still experience problems during daily living, such as negative mood states and a decreased psychological well-being.

Context: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) of cell lineage-specific transcription factors (TFs) has been added to the histopathological classification of pituitary adenomas since 2017, resulting in new histopathological subtypes of TF+/hormone−non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) and a reduction in the prevalence of null cell adenomas (NCAs). Objective: This work aimed to evaluate associations between expression of cell lineage-specific TFs by IHC and radiological invasion and prognosis of NFPAs. Data sources: A literature search in Medline, Embase, and CENTRAL was performed from inception up to July 11, 2023. Study selection: Eligible studies were cohort studies reporting on radiological invasion, recurrence, and/or radiotherapy in patients with NFPAs who tested positive for one cell lineage-specific TF or negative for all 3. Finally, 27 out of 1985 studies were included. Data extraction: Two authors independently extracted data and critically appraised risk of bias using the Quality In Prognostic Studies (QUIPS) tool. Data synthesis: Random-effects inverse variance models were used to pool effect sizes. Prevalence rate ratios (PRRs) were calculated using the Mantel-Haenszel method. Cavernous sinus invasion was more prevalent in NCAs and TPIT+ NFPAs compared with SF1+ NFPAs (PRR 1.60; 95% CI, 1.22-2.08, I2 10%, 95% prediction interval [PrI] 1.23-2.06; P = .0036, and PRR 1.43; 95% CI, 1.21-1.70, I2 0%, 95% PrI 1.17-1.76; P = .0017, respectively), and in NCAs compared with PIT1+ (PRR 1.44; 95% CI, 1.01-2.06, I2 0%, 95% PrI 0.83-2.50; P = .0454). A limited number of studies precluded data syntheses of recurrence and radiotherapy. Conclusion: The use of cell lineage-specific TFs by IHC enables to detect histopathological subtypes of NFPAs with distinct clinical behavior.

Context Previous studies report that outcomes of growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy (GHRT) might be less beneficial in growth hormone deficient (GHD) women compared to men. Objective To investigate possible contributing factors regarding this previously found sex difference Design Retrospective cohort study Setting: Nationwide outpatient clinic (The Dutch National Registry of GH Treatment in Adults) Patients Dutch adult GHD men (n = 1335) and women (n = 1251) Intervention growth hormone replacement therapy Main Outcome Measures baseline characteristics, details of GHRT, tolerability and long-term safety of GHRT. Results During treatment, sensitivity analysis showed that IGF-1 SD scores remained subnormal more often in women (p < ·001), while scores above normal were more frequent in men (p < ·001). Women reported more adverse events (p < ·001), especially symptoms related to fluid retention and needed more often a dose reduction in or temporary stop of GHRT (p = ·001). In percentages, both sexes equally discontinued GHRT as was also true for the risk in developing type 2 diabetes mellitus, benign neoplasms and tumor recurrence. The risk of developing malignant neoplasms was higher in men (p = ·012). Conclusions Data obtained from the Dutch National Registry of GH Treatment in Adults indicate that GHD women might be treated suboptimal, reflected as lower IGF-1 status and are less tolerable of GHRT, which more often led to changes in treatment regime but not discontinuation of GHRT. Regarding long-term safety, we found a higher risk in development of malignancies in GHD men.