Citations

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.

OBJECTIVE While endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (ETS) is the standard treatment for nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs), the postoperative recovery rates of secondary adrenal insufficiency and their predictive factors remain poorly understood. The authors investigated the relationship between the tumor resection rate and adrenal function recovery in patients with NFPAs. METHODS This retrospective study included 450 patients with NFPAs who underwent ETS between January 2013 and November 2023. The rates of preoperative hypopituitarism and postoperative recovery rates of secondary adrenal insufficiency and their associated factors were analyzed. Recovery was defined as normalization of serum cortisol levels without replacement therapy for at least 24 hours, accompanied by symptom resolution. The tumor resection rate was calculated as the percentage of the tumor volume resected. RESULTS The median follow-up period for the entire cohort was 52 months (range 1–131 months). A total of 246 (55%) patients had dysfunction in one or more pituitary axes. Fifty-three (47%) of 114 patients with preoperative adrenal insufficiency showed postoperative adrenal insufficiency recovery. The cumulative adrenal insufficiency recovery rates were 12% at 1 month, 19% at 3 months, 32% at 6 months, and 41% at 12 months. Among the 114 patients with preoperative adrenal insufficiency, the factors associated with postoperative adrenal insufficiency recovery were investigated. Patients with smaller tumor sizes of < 20 mm (log-rank test, p = 0.001) and those with tumor resection rates of more than 85% (log-rank test, p = 0.032) demonstrated better postoperative adrenal insufficiency improvement. Bivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis demonstrated that smaller tumor sizes (continuous, HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.93–0.98; p = 0.043) and higher tumor resection rates (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.07; p = 0.001) were significantly associated with better postoperative adrenal insufficiency recovery. Multivariable analysis confirmed that only higher tumor resection rates were significantly associated with better postoperative adrenal insufficiency recovery (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.06; p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS Nearly half of the patients with preoperative adrenal insufficiency achieved recovery after ETS for NFPAs. The enhanced extent of tumor removal was an independent factor associated with better postoperative recovery, indicating that optimizing safe maximal resection procedures may be crucial in enhancing adrenal function.

Abstract Disclosure: J. Herndon: None. Y. Hleibiehova: None. A. Bancos: None. S. Achenbach: None. E. Atkinson: None. D. Donegan: Camarus, Recordati. I. Bancos: None. Introduction: Studies show that quality of life (QOL) among patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI) (primary (PAI) or secondary (SAI)) improves following adequate glucocorticoid replacement, however decreased QOL persists. SAI due to hypophysitis or infrequently PAI due to adrenalitis are recognized complications of immune-checkpoint-inhibitors (ICI). It is unknown if patients with ICI induced AI (ICI-AI) would report similar findings in QOL. Aim: To assess the impact of ICI-AI on specific determinants of health-related QOL (HRQOL) and compare management and outcomes to SAI due to other etiologies (oSAI). Methods: A cross-sectional survey study of adult patients who completed at least 1 AddiQOL survey with a diagnosis of ICI- AI or oSAI evaluated between 2015 and 2024 were included. Patients with opioid- or glucocorticoid-induced-AI were excluded. A study survey obtained information regarding diagnosis and treatment. Results: 112 patients with ICI-AI were included (SAI n=109, PAI n=3). Among those with ICI-AI, 59% were female, median age at diagnosis was 59.7 ±12.8 years and melanoma was the most common indication for ICI use (51%). The median time to ICI-AI diagnosis was 5.5 (range 0.3-80.8) months and 46% used combination ICI therapy. When compared to those with oSAI (n=139), patients with central ICI-AI were older at diagnosis (59 ±12.7 vs 46 ±18.1 years, p &lt;0.01), more were female (59 vs 43%, p=0.015) and most were diagnosed in the last year (88% vs 42%, p&lt;0.01). Those with ICI-AI received higher hydrocortisone (HC) equivalent daily doses than those with oSAI (25.1± 18.3 vs 22.1 ±16.9 mg/day, p&lt;0.01), however there was no difference in the number of adrenal crises (AC) reported within the last year (14 vs 16, p=0.78). Patients with ICI-AI felt that emergency personnel understood their diagnosis and treated them promptly (75% vs 0% p=0.012). Logistic regression analysis of the entire group (ICI-AI + oSAI) did not identify an association between the occurrence of AC in the last year and HC dose &gt;20 mg/day or type of glucocorticoid. Furthermore, there was no difference in number of AC per person year assessed between the ICI-AI and oSAI (0.23 ±0.5 vs 0.21 ±0.5, p= 0.4). The mean total AddiQOL score was higher in those with ICI-AI (87.2 ±13.9 vs 81.8 ±15.8, p=0.02). When adjusted for age and sex, total AddiQOL score was inversely related to number of symptoms present (r: -0.49, p&lt;0.01; r: -0.58, p&lt;0.01), occurrence of AC in the last year (r: -0.27, p=0.01; r: -0.33, p&lt;0.01) and positively related to current employment (r:0.33 p&lt;0.01 0.2,p=0.02) in ICI-AI and oSAI respectively. Conclusion: This is the first study to compare management and HRQOL in patients with ICI-AI compared to oSAI and although there were no significant differences in total number of AC events between the 2 groups, differences exist in terms of AI presentation, management and reported QOL. Presentation: Sunday, July 13, 2025

OBJECTIVE Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) often present with associated mild hyperprolactinemia, described in literature as "stalk effect." The presence of preoperative hyperprolactinemia caused by tumor compression of the pituitary stalk and endocrinological outcomes has been noted; however, a detailed investigation on the impact on perioperative endocrinological outcome is lacking. The authors aimed to determine whether elevated preoperative serum prolactin concentrations are associated with increased risk of perioperative pituitary dysfunction in patients with NFPAs undergoing endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (ETS). METHODS The authors conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent ETS for NFPAs between January 2013 and April 2023. Patients were divided into two groups based on preoperative prolactin concentrations: normal or hyperprolactinemic (prolactin values above upper limit of reference range, adjusted for sex). Outcomes included perioperative endocrinological function and surgical outcomes. Multivariable analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with perioperative endocrinological function outcomes. RESULTS Of 244 patients (140 [57%] males; median age 59 years) with a median follow-up of 65 months, 131 (54%) had hyperprolactinemia. Compared with patients with normal preoperative prolactin levels (n = 113), the hyperprolactinemia group had similar tumor size (median diameter 2.5 cm vs 2.3 cm, p = 0.102) but higher rates of cavernous sinus invasion (99% vs 91%, p = 0.035), pituitary stalk deviation (95% vs 74%, p = 0.001), stalk bending (14% vs 1%, p = 0.001), preoperative secondary hypothyroidism (39% vs 22%, p = 0.005), and adrenal insufficiency (AI; 34% vs 22%, p = 0.048). Postoperatively, the hyperprolactinemia group showed higher rates of new secondary hypothyroidism (16% vs 7%, p = 0.048) and new permanent AI (16% vs 6%, p = 0.046). Multivariable analysis revealed preoperative high prolactin as an independent predictor of preoperative secondary hypothyroidism (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.17–3.44; p = 0.046) and its postoperative deterioration (OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.02–7.69; p = 0.042). Maximum tumor diameter was also a significant predictor of various endocrinological dysfunctions both pre- and postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS Preoperative hyperprolactinemia in patients with NFPA is associated with higher risks of specific perioperative endocrinological dysfunction and pronounced pituitary stalk deviation. These findings highlight the utility of preoperative prolactin levels as a biomarker for predicting postoperative endocrinological outcomes, potentially enhancing risk assessment and guiding personalized perioperative management.

Abstract Introduction Endogenous Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a rare endocrine disorder that chronically exposes patients to supraphysiological cortisol levels. Primary therapy for CS consists of surgery. Medical therapies are also considered for many patients with CS, including those who are not surgical candidates or have persistent or recurrent hypercortisolism after surgery. Osilodrostat, an adrenal steroidogenesis inhibitor, demonstrated sustained efficacy and safety in phase 3 clinical trials and is currently approved to treat endogenous CS in Europe and the United States. Because of limited clinical experience, questions remain about how to individualize osilodrostat treatment for different clinical scenarios and special populations. Additional guidance from experts based on clinical study and real-world experiences with osilodrostat is needed. Methods A modified Delphi consensus panel study was conducted consisting of 13 specialists from high-volume endocrinology centers with experience prescribing osilodrostat. Advisors participated in 3 consensus rounds (2 anonymous surveys, 1 virtual workshop) over approximately 10 months to provide guidance and recommendations on optimal osilodrostat use. Results Over 2 surveys and a 2-hour virtual workshop, 26 statements related to osilodrostat achieved consensus among Delphi panelists and 5 were excluded. Topics included patient preparation before osilodrostat initiation, baseline testing, dosing at onset and during treatment, managing dose adjustments, monitoring during dose titration, and treatment alterations for planned and unexpected clinical events. Conclusion Treatment guidance and recommendations for osilodrostat use were obtained using the Delphi method. These statements are intended to provide physicians with education and guidance on using osilodrostat to optimally treat patients with CS.

Abstract Hereditary tumor predisposition syndromes pose a challenge for early detection and timely treatment of tumors. In von Hippel–Lindau disease, desirable personalized surveillance programs are lacking due to insufficient data on genotype-specific risk profiles of individual mutations. To describe neoplastic risk profiles for carriers of pathogenic and likely pathogenic VHL germline mutations, our observational study recruited 1,350 participants from 40 centers worldwide. 432 different VHL germline mutations were observed, with p.Asn78Ser, p.Arg161Ter, p.Arg161Gln, p.Arg167Gln, p.Arg167Trp and p.Tyr98His being the six most frequent, occurring in a total of 493 carriers (36.5%) and in ≥30 patients each. Age-related penetrance risks for retinal hemangioblastoma, central nervous system hemangioblastoma, renal cell carcinoma, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma in carriers of the most frequent VHL mutations were assessed. In addition, the number of organs affected, the frequency of surgery and the outcome are reported. Pairwise comparisons of the age-dependent tumor penetrance of these six mutations showed that 47 out of 90 pairs were significantly different. The most significant associations were found in p.Tyr98His (n = 19), followed by p.Arg161Ter (n = 10). All pairwise comparisons of mutations affecting different codons showed at least one significant (P &lt; 0.05) difference, except for p.Asn78Ser vs p.Arg161Ter. Thus, tumor risk varied by VHL mutation type and location, but did not differ between the truncating mutation p.Arg161Ter and the missense mutation p.Asn78Ser. Our study demonstrates the importance of mutation-specific phenotype prediction. With appropriate validation, the data have important implications for risk assessment and decision making in tumor prevention for carriers of the respective VHL mutations.

Abstract Disclosure: B. Graner: None. D.Z. Erickson: None. D. Donegan: None. Introduction: Pituitary lesions are a common incidental finding on brain MRI, the majority of which are cystic. The natural history and management of cystic pituitary lesions have not been clearly established. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the natural history of incidentally identified cystic pituitary lesions, risk factors for growth and the proportion of patients who develop clinically significant symptoms requiring surgical intervention. Methods: Pituitary MRI reports between 01/01/2015 and 12/31/2022 in patients aged 18 years and older were searched for using Dig Our Radiology Information System (DORIS) using the words “cyst” or “cystic.” Additional inclusion criteria included a follow-up pituitary MRI of at least one year duration, clinical evaluation by Endocrinology, and the presence of a cystic pituitary lesion. Patients with non-contrast exams, excessive pituitary hormone secretion, and surgery within 1 year of presentation were excluded. Patient demographics, imaging characteristics of the lesion and clinical outcomes were collected. All pituitary MRI exams were reviewed by a single neuroradiologist. Results: A total of 157 MRIs in 56 patients with a mean age of 48 ±15 years were included, 39 (70%) were female. The mean follow-up was 2.3 ± 1.4 years. The most common indication for MRI was headache (n= 18, 32%). There was no significant difference in mean maximum (max) diameter at last follow-up compared to baseline (7.45 ±4.23 vs 7.04 ±4.35 mm, p=0.06) or mean cyst volume (197.08 ±252.68 vs 201.43 ±326.18 mm3). Nine (16%) of the lesions increased in volume with a mean change in volume of 105 ±133.64 mm3/yr, note 11 (20%) decreased volume and 36 (64%) remained the same size. Using univariate logistic regression, the odds of cyst growth was greater the larger the max diameter (p= 0.03) or volume was at baseline (p= 0.02)/ Female sex (p=0.32), age at diagnosis (p=0.70) or whether the lesion was thought to be a Rathke cleft cyst or a cystic adenoma (p=0.80) were not associated with increased odds of growth. The risk of growth was higher (42 vs 9%, p=0.016) and the volume change per year was greater (67.2 ±134 vs -7 ±28 mm3, p=0.04) in those with a baseline max diameter of &gt;10 mm. Surgery was performed in 4 patients (7%), 3 of which demonstrated lesion growth (baseline size 12-15 mm and growth rates of 59-341mm3/yr). Pathology revealed one Rathke cleft cyst, one cystic adenoma and fibrotic pituitary changes. The fourth surgical patient opted for resection at an outside facility without a demonstrated increase in size (Rathke cleft cyst). Conclusion: The majority of incidentally found cystic pituitary lesions do not increase after an average follow-up 2-3 years. Growth necessitating surgical intervention was only required in 5% of patients over the study period. A pituitary cyst &gt;10 mm at diagnosis was associated with an increased risk of growth and therefore warrants closer follow-up. Presentation: 6/1/2024

OBJECTIVE Arginine vasopressin deficiency (AVD) following neurosurgical procedures for pituitary disorders is common and can delay discharge. Copeptin, a stable surrogate marker of arginine vasopressin, may predict postoperative AVD. The authors’ aim was to assess the optimal postoperative sampling time and cut-point concentration of copeptin to predict the development of postsurgical AVD. METHODS Adults without preexisting AVD who were undergoing surgery for a pituitary lesion between February 2020 and April 2022 were eligible for study inclusion. Two samples were drawn from each patient postoperatively to assess the copeptin concentration using an immunofluorescent assay. Samples were denoted as "early" (within 6 hours of extubation) or "postoperative day 1" (POD1; within 10–30 hours of extubation). Patients were evaluated for the development of AVD. RESULTS One hundred ninety-two patients (54.2% female) with a median age of 54.5 years (IQR 39.8–67.0 years) were included in the study. The median copeptin concentration at both time points was significantly lower in those with AVD (transient or permanent; n = 22, 11.5%) than in those without (early: 4.9 vs 18.7 pmol/L, p < 0.001; POD1: 3.4 vs 4.9 pmol/L, p < 0.001) but did not differ in those who developed transient versus permanent AVD. The optimal copeptin cut point for the prediction of AVD was < 8.5 pmol/L for early samples (sensitivity 0.70, specificity 0.80, positive predictive value [PPV] 0.29, negative predictive value [NPV] 0.96) and < 4.3 pmol/L for POD1 samples (sensitivity 0.82, specificity 0.63, PPV 0.22, NPV 0.96). In early samples, a copeptin cutoff of 22.9 pmol/L increased the sensitivity for the detection of AVD to 95% with an NPV of 99%. The proportion of patients who had AVD was higher (60.0% vs 8.8%, p < 0.001) and the copeptin concentration lower (early: 4.3 vs 17.0 pmol/L, p < 0.001; POD1: 2.7 vs 4.9 pmol/L, p < 0.001) among those who had undergone surgery for a craniopharyngeal duct pathology versus a pituitary adenoma. Although copeptin was lower in patients with persistent Cushing’s disease than in those in remission, the difference did not reach statistical significance (early p = 0.11, POD1 p = 0.52). Furthermore, the copeptin concentration could not predict the development of syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone. Patients without AVD who had received stress dose steroids intraoperatively had lower median early copeptin (11.7 vs 19.1 pmol/L, p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS In early postoperative copeptin samples, the optimal copeptin cut point for AVD diagnosis was < 8.5 pmol/L, and a level > 22.9 pmol/L had predicative utility in excluding AVD. Caution should be used when interpreting copeptin results, as patients administered glucocorticoids intraoperatively without AVD had lower median copeptin concentrations.