[Quality of life in patients with pituitary adenomas in the pre- and postoperative period].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To evaluate changes in quality of life in patients before and after the resection of pituitary adenoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS A clinical study involved 42 patients with pituitary adenomas. The diagnosis was based on clinical laboratory data, findings of radiology imaging and instrumented tests. Pituitary adenomas were resected through the transsphenoidal approach. Patients quality of life was analyzed in the preoperative and early postoperative periods. Patients were aged 22-63 years (median age, 45 years). A specialized EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire developed by the Quality of Life Group of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer was selected for evaluation of quality of life in the pre- and postoperative periods. This questionnaire has been used in many international clinical studies. RESULTS The patients showed positive dynamics during the postoperative period according to all functional scales. Such symptoms as fatigue, pain intensity, frequency of nausea, vomiting and shortness of breath were reduced in patients after the surgery. Intestinal motility was postoperatively normalized in these patients (the frequency of diarrhea or constipation events was reduced). The sleeping pattern was normalized. The patients also noted that their expected financial difficulties became less pressing after the surgery. The score corresponding to patients overall wellbeing was improved. Progression of such symptom as the loss of appetite was observed in patients after the surgery. CONCLUSION Pre- and postoperative evaluation of various quality of life parameters in patients with pituitary adenomas revealed that gross total resection of pituitary adenoma through the transsphenoidal approach improved patients quality of life.