Donegan, Diane

ABSTRACT Objective Pituitary carcinoma (PC) is defined by the presence of metastasis from a pituitary tumour. PC is rare, therefore information regarding survival and factors influencing survival are limited. We sought to assess overall survival following the diagnosis of PC and to determine factors associated with outcome. Design Retrospective case series. Patients Patients with PC who attended the Mayo clinic between 1997 and 2025. Measurements Information regarding patient demographics, tumour characteristics, management and outcomes were extracted. Results In total 25 patients (11 women, 44%) were diagnosed with PC (median age 56 years, range, 44–78). The most common cell type was a corticotroph tumour ( n = 15, 60%). All but one patient had pituitary directed surgery and all received pituitary adenoma (PA) directed radiation therapy. Metastases were identified a median 6 years (range, 1–32) after initial PA diagnosis. At last follow‐up, 10 (40%) patients were alive, 12 (48%) died of PC, and 3 (12%) died from other causes. The median survival time of patients from PC diagnosis was 3 years. The 1‐, 5‐ and 10‐year survival rates were 59%, 37% and 15%, respectively. Increased survival probability was associated with temozolomide treatment ( n = 9) at some point in treatment plan ( p = 0.026), the use of systemic therapy vs locoregional treatment ( p = 0.045), female sex ( p = 0.011), and in nonfunctional tumours ( p = 0.023). Conclusion PC carries a poor prognosis, with a median survival of only 3 years. Improved survival was associated with temozolomide exposure, female sex, and nonfunctional tumour subtype and underscores the prognostic relevance of tumour biology and treatment approach.

Abstract Context Limited data are available on quality of life (QoL) and adrenal crises in patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor–induced secondary adrenal insufficiency (ICI-SAI). Objective To (1) characterize the presentation, management, and outcomes of patients with ICI-SAI; (2) compare outcomes of ICI-SAI with other etiologies of secondary adrenal insufficiency (oSAI); and (3) identify variables associated with QoL and adrenal crisis. Methods In this single-center cross-sectional study, adults with ICI-SAI or oSAI (2018-2025) completed questionnaires assessing symptoms, management, adrenal crises, and the Addison’s Disease–Specific QoL survey (AddiQoL); outcomes included AddiQoL score and adrenal crisis events. Results Patients with ICI-SAI (n = 109) were older (median age 66 vs 60 years), more often women (59% vs 43%), and more frequently diagnosed within 1 year of symptom onset (88% vs 42%, P < .001), compared to patients with oSAI (n = 139). Patients with ICI-SAI had higher AddiQoL scores (median 87 vs 85, P = .020). In a multivariable analysis of age, sex, glucocorticoid dose and type, insurance support, and duration of SAI, ICI-SAI remained independently associated with higher AddiQoL (estimate 5.4, P = .010). The prevalence of reported adrenal crises within the prior year was similar between groups (15% vs 14%, P = .782). In a multivariable analysis, higher AddiQoL scores were independently associated with lower odds of adrenal crisis (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.42-0.76). Conclusion Patients with ICI-SAI report better QoL compared with patients with other causes of SAI, despite similar adrenal crisis rates. These differences may be related to earlier diagnosis and differing clinical contexts, underscoring the importance of timeline recognition and patient-centered management.