Abstract

Object. The aim of this study was to determine prognostic factors for outcome after transsphenoidal hypophysectomy in dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH).Methods. One veterinary neurosurgeon performed transsphenoidal hypophysectomies in 181 dogs with PDH over a 12-year period. Survival analysis was performed with the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors were analyzed with the univariate Cox proportional hazard analysis followed by stepwise multivariate analysis. The log-rank test was used to assess disease-free fractions in three groups categorized according to early postoperative urinary corticoid/creatinine (C/C) ratios.Results. Multivariate analysis revealed that old age, large pituitary size, and high preoperative concentrations of plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone were associated with an increased risk of PDH-related death. In addition, large pituitary size, thick sphenoid bone, high C/C ratio, and high concentration of plasma a-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) before surgery were associated with an increased risk of disease recurrence in the dogs that went into remission after hypophysectomy. Disease-free fractions were significantly higher in dogs with postoperative urinary C/C ratios in the lower normal range (< 5 X 10(-6)) than in dogs with postoperative C/C ratios in the upper normal range (5-10 X 10(-6)).Conclusions. The results of this study indicate that pituitary size, sphenoid bone thickness, plasma a-MSH concentration, and preoperative level of urinary cortisol excretion are predictors of long-term remission after transsphenoidal hypophysectomy for PDH in dogs. Urinary C/C ratios measured 6 to 10 weeks after surgery can be used as a guide for predicting the risk of tumor recurrence.

Keywords

adenohypophysis; Cushing disease; dog; hypereortisolism; survival analysis

Published in

Journal of Neurosurgery
2007, Volume: 107, number: 4, pages: 830-840

UKÄ Subject classification

Clinical Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3171/JNS-07/10/0830

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/86232