Clinical presentation and hormonal profile of patients with pituitary tumour

Abstract

Background: Pituitary tumours represent about 10% of intracranial tumours. To know about the common clinical presentations and hormone profile of patients with pituitary tumour help in early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.Methods: A prospective study was carried out for a duration of 16 months from 1st June 2018 to 30th September 2019, among 93 patients admitted with diagnosis of pituitary tumour in department of neurosurgery in a tertiary care centre. Study involved initial clinical assessment followed by assessment of hormone profile. In the end of the study the most common clinical presentation and the common pituitary hormones that were deranged in those cases were found out. Statistical analysis was done to find out relationship between hormone levels and clinical symptoms.Results: From the study it was found that the most common clinical presentations of pituitary tumour were headache [58 patients (62.4%)] and visual disturbance [53 patients (56.9%)]. Hormone over production was reported in 35 patients (37.6%), of which 25 patients (26.9%) were having high prolactin levels. Most common hormone that showed below normal values in pituitary tumour patients was luteinizing hormone (LH), in 19 patients (19.35%). Study also found out statistically significant association between elevated prolactin levels and headache.Conclusions: In patients with pituitary tumours most common clinical presentations included headache and visual disturbance. Prolactin was the most common hormone which was above normal levels. Most common hormone that was below normal levels were gonadotropins.