This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 91/9/3364    most recent Author Manuscript (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Dekkers, O. M. Articles by Romijn, J. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Dekkers, O. M. Articles by Romijn, J. A. Related Collections Endocrine Oncology Neuroendocrinology and Pituitary

Quality of Life Is Decreased after Treatment for Nonfunctioning Pituitary Macroadenoma

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: O. M. Dekkers, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases C4-R, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. E-mail: o.m.dekkers{at}lumc.nl.

Objective: Although a reduced quality of life (QoL) has been reported after long-term cure of functioning pituitary adenomas, the effect of successful treatment of nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenoma (NFMA) on QoL has not been fully addressed. Therefore, we evaluated a broad spectrum of QoL parameters in patients successfully treated for NFMA in our center.

Design: We conducted a case-control study.

Patients and Methods: We assessed QoL in 99 adult patients (mean age, 61.9 yr; range, 24–86 yr) in remission during long-term follow-up after surgical (n = 99) and additional radiotherapeutic (n = 37) treatment for NFMA by four validated health-related questionnaires (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Multidimensional Fatigue Index, Nottingham Health Profile, and Short Form-36). Patient outcomes were compared with 125 controls and with age-adjusted reference values derived from the literature.

Results: NFMA patients reported significantly impaired QoL in all questionnaires compared with the 125 controls and the age-adjusted reference values. All subscales of fatigue, assessed using the Multidimensional Fatigue Index (general fatigue, physical fatigue, reduction in activity, reduction in motivation, and mental fatigue) were impaired. The scores in the Nottingham Health Profile pointed toward reduced energy and affected emotional reaction. In several subscales of the Short Form-36 (social functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, role limitations due to emotional problems, and general health perception), NFMA patients reported a reduced QoL.

Conclusion: QoL is considerably reduced in patients after successful treatment of NFMA.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B Havekes, A A van der Klaauw, H C Hoftijzer, J C Jansen, A G L van der Mey, A H J T Vriends, J W A Smit, J A Romijn, and E P M Corssmit Reduced quality of life in patients with head-and-neck paragangliomas Eur. J. Endocrinol., February 1, 2008; 158(2): 247 - 253. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. C. Hoftijzer, K. A. Heemstra, E. P. M. Corssmit, A. A. van der Klaauw, J. A. Romijn, and J. W. A. Smit Quality of Life in Cured Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2008; 93(1): 200 - 203. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. A. van der Klaauw, O. M. Dekkers, A. M. Pereira, K. W. van Kralingen, and J. A. Romijn Increased Daytime Somnolence despite Normal Sleep Patterns in Patients Treated for Nonfunctioning Pituitary Macroadenoma J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2007; 92(10): 3898 - 3903. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M Kars, A A van der Klaauw, C S Onstein, A M Pereira, and J A Romijn Quality of life is decreased in female patients treated for microprolactinoma Eur. J. Endocrinol., August 1, 2007; 157(2): 133 - 139. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O M Dekkers, S Hammer, R J W de Keizer, F Roelfsema, P J Schutte, J W A Smit, J A Romijn, and A M Pereira The natural course of non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas Eur. J. Endocrinol., February 1, 2007; 156(2): 217 - 224. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]