An account of the quality of life of patients after treatment for non-functioning pituitary tumours

OBJECTIVE Studies assessing quality of life in GH‐deficient adults have shown varying results. This may be due to a number of factors including varying causes of GH deficiency, the use of radiotherapy in treatment and patient selection. We aimed to assess whether anterior pituitary hormone deficiency or external pituitary radiotherapy influenced the quality of life of patients with non‐functioning pituitary tumours. PATIENTS We studied 48 patients treated and under follow up for non‐functioning pituitary tumours on standard hormone replacement therapy excluding GH. There were 21 females and 27 males with a mean age of 59±12 years. We also studied 42 control patients who had undergone mastoid surgery and were followed at least annually. There were 17 females and 25 males with a mean age of 61±14 years. DESIGN All patients attended a research clinic and completed the Short Form 36 (SF36) and General Well Being Schedule (GWBS) to assess quality of life. Thyroid function tests, IGF1 and IGFBP3 were measured on all patients. Gonadotrophin and cortisol measurements were made on the patients with pituitary disease where appropriate. RESULTS IGF1 and IGFBP3 levels were lower in the pituitary patients compared with controls: 104±98 vs 143±37 μg/l (P