Modern approaches of radiation therapy in somatotropinomas

Abstract

The purpose of our study is to study the current approaches of radiation therapy at somatotropinomas and to evaluate neuroimaging indices in long term periods of therapy. The object of the study was 50 patients who underwent radiotherapy. The patients were divided into 3 groups: the 1st group a 1 year after the radiation therapy 7 persons, the 2nd group 1-5 years — 19, the 3rd group 5-10 years — 24 patients. The results of determining the average daily levels of growth hormone at various times after the radiation therapy show that at the time of the first examination, all patients had active acromegaly, which was estimated by the level of growth hormone. Evaluation of the condition of patients in all groups after radiation therapy showed a decrease in growth hormone levels (p<0,01). A significant decrease was observed in group III, the average level of growth hormone was 7,8±1,2 mMe/l. The result of the dynamics of neuroimaging studies at various times after radiation therapy showed a significant decrease in the size of pituitary adenomas in all respects.

Conclusion. In the long-term period after radiation therapy, 10% of patients had a decrease in the size of the pituitary gland, 54% had normal pituitary sizes, 16% had no effect and in 20% of cases there was an empty turkish saddle. It has been established that radiation therapy, followed by medical treatment with dopamine agonists, both in the immediate and long term periods after it, contributes to the stabilization of the pathological process of acromegaly.