The prognosis in acromegaly treated by transanthro-sphenoidal operation.

The paper is a report of a follow-up study of 80 acromegalic patients treated by transanthro-sphenoidal removal of a pituitary adenoma. The average follow-up time was 3.7 years. Complete restitution or improvement of the visual field defects was noted in 77%. Total regression of the soft tissue swelling was observed in around 1/3 of the patients. Complete regression or improvement of the acromegalic activity was achieved in 94%. Total regression of the dominant symptoms was noted in 74%. The rate of tumour recurrence was around 5% and the total mortality rate in the disease during the follow-up period 7.5%. The transanthro-sphenoidal surgery of the pituitary adenoma in this series resulted in a high rate of regression of the acromegalic symptoms at the same time as normal anterior pituitary function often was restored.