Outcome of patients after transcranial operation for pituitary adenoma.

A retrospective study of 111 craniotomies for pituitary adenomas was analyzed. The follow-up time was 14-33 years. Thirteen patients died from complications of primary or secondary operations, 23 of causes otherwise related to the tumor and 20 of unrelated causes. 40% of patients surviving the primary operation had recurrence of their tumor. Radiotherapy did not prevent recurrences, but postponed their occurrence. Some tumors appeared very late, the last one 18 years after operation. 70% of the surviving patients need hormone substitution, but only 8 patients have severe impairment of vision.