Purpose Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) are associated with impaired well-being, increased comorbidities, and reduced long-term survival. Data on optimal management of NFPAs around surgical treatment are scarce, and postoperative treatment and follow-up strategies have not been evaluated in prospective trials. Here, we review the preoperative, perioperative, and early postoperative management of patients with NFPAs. Methods We searched Medline and the Cochrane Library for articles published in English with the following items “Pituitary neoplasms AND Surgery” and “Surgery AND Hypopituitarism”. Studies containing detailed analyses of the management of NFPAs in adult patients, including pituitary surgery, endocrine care, imaging, ophthalmologic assessment and long-term outcome were reviewed. Results Treatment options for NFPAs include active surveillance, surgical resection, and radiotherapy. Pituitary surgery is currently recommended as first-line treatment in patients with visual impairment due to adenomas compressing the optic nerves or chiasma. Radiotherapy is reserved for large tumor remnants or tumor recurrence following one or more surgical attempts. There is no consensus of optimal pre-, peri-, and postoperative management such as timing, frequency, and duration of endocrine, radiologic, and ophthalmologic assessments as well as management of smaller tumor remnants or tumor recurrence. Conclusions In clinical practice, there is a great variation in the treatment and follow-up of patients with NFPAs. We have, based on available data, suggested an optimal management strategy for patients with NFPAs in relation to pituitary surgery. Prospective trials oriented at drawing up strategies for the management of NFPAs are needed.

Context: Clinical features of acromegaly develop insidiously. Its diagnosis may therefore be delayed. Objective: Our aim was to study diagnostic delay and its impact on morbidity and mortality in a nationwide cohort of patients with acromegaly. Design: Adult patients diagnosed with acromegaly between 2001 and 2013 were identified in the Swedish National Patient Registry. Diagnostic codes for predefined comorbidities associated with acromegaly were recorded between 1987 and 2013. Diagnostic delay was calculated as the time between the first registered comorbidity and the diagnosis of acromegaly. Results: A total of 603 patients (280 men, 323 women) with acromegaly were included. Mean (s.d.) diagnostic delay was 5.5 (6.2) years (median (minimum, maximum) 3.3 (0.0–25.9)) Diagnostic delay was 1–<5 years in 23% patients; 5–<10 years in 17%; and ≥10 years in 24%. No delay was recorded in 36% of patients. Overall, mean (s.d.) number of comorbidities was 4.1 (2.5) and was higher in patients with longer diagnostic delay (P < 0.0001). Overall, observed number of deaths was 61 (expected 42.2), resulting in a standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of 1.45 (95% CI: 1.11–1.86). Increased mortality was only found in patients with the longest diagnostic delay (1.76, 95% CI: 1.12–2.65). In the other groups, no statistically significant increase in mortality was recorded, with the numerically lowest SMR observed in patients without diagnostic delay (1.18; 95% CI: 0.68–1.92). Conclusions: The diagnosis of acromegaly is delayed in most patients. Prolonged diagnostic delay is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) represents 3-5% of thyroid cancers. 75% is sporadic and 25% is the dominant component of the hereditary multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2 syndromes. Three different subtypes of MEN2, such as MEN2A, MEN2B, and Familial MTC (FMTC) have been defined, based on presence or absence of hyperparathyroidism, pheocromocytoma and characteristic clinical features. Mutations of the RET proto-oncogene are implicated in the pathogenesis of MTC, but there are many other mutational patterns involved. In MEN2A, Codon 634 in exon 11 (Cys634Arg), corresponding to a cysteine in the extracellular cysteine-rich domain, is the most commonly altered codon. Many other mutations include codons 611, 618, 620. In the genetical testing of RET mutations in MTCs, Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) is taking an increasingly important role. One of the most important benefit is the comprehensive analysis of molecular alterations in MTC, which allows rapidly to select patients with different risk levels. There is a difference in miRNA expression pathway between sporadic and hereditary MTCs. Among sporadic cases, expression of miR-127 was significantly lower in those who harbor somatic RET mutations than those with wild-type RET. CDKN1B mutations are associated with many clinical pictures of cancers, such as MEN4. V109G polymorphism is associated with sporadic MTCs negative for RET mutations, and might influence the clinical course of the patients affected by MTC. Although surgery (i.e. total thyroidectomy with neck lymph node dissection) is the elective treatment for MTCs, about 80% of patients have distant metastases at diagnosis and in this cases surgery is not enough and an additional treatment is needed. Interesting results come from two large phase III clinical trials with two targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), vandetanib and cabozantinib. New genetical testings and therapeutical approaches open new perspectives in MTC management.

Context: New therapeutic strategies have developed for the management of acromegaly over recent decades. Whether this has improved mortality has not been fully elucidated. Objective: The primary aim was to investigate mortality in a nationwide unselected cohort of patients with acromegaly. Secondary analyses included time trends in mortality and treatment patterns. Design: A total of 1089 patients with acromegaly were identified in Swedish National Health Registries between 1987 and 2013. To analyse time trends, the cohort was divided into three periods (1987–1995, 1996–2004 and 2005–2013) based on the year of diagnosis. Main outcome measures: Using the Swedish population as reference, standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Overall SMR was 2.79 (95% CI: 2.43–3.15) with 232 observed and 83 expected deaths. Mortality was mainly related to circulatory diseases (SMR: 2.95, 95% CI: 2.35–3.55), including ischemic heart disease (2.00, 1.35–2.66) and cerebrovascular disease (3.99, 2.42–5.55) and malignancy (1.76, 1.27–2.26). Mortality decreased over time, with an SMR of 3.45 (2.87–4.02) and 1.86 (1.04–2.67) during the first and last time period, respectively (P = .015). During the same time periods, the frequency of pituitary surgery increased from 58% to 72% (P < 0.001) and the prevalence of hypopituitarism decreased from 41% to 23% (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Excess mortality was found in this nationwide cohort of patients with acromegaly, mainly related to circulatory and malignant diseases. Although still high, mortality significantly declined over time. This could be explained by the more frequent use of pituitary surgery, decreased prevalence of hypopituitarism and the availability of new medical treatment options.