Outcomes of stereotactic radiosurgery for pituitary metastases: an international multi-institutional study

  • Hussam Abou-Al-Shaar
  • , Ibrahem Albalkhi
  • , Rimsha K. Shariff
  • , Arka N. Mallela
  • , Pouneh K. Fazeli
  • , Salem M. Tos
  • , Georgios Mantziaris
  • , Ying Meng
  • , Kenneth Bernstein
  • , Tehila Kaisman-Elbaz
  • , Hanan Abofani
  • , Yen Yu Lin
  • , Cheng Chia Lee
  • , Manjul Tripathi
  • , Rituraj Upadhyay
  • , Joshua D. Palmer
  • , Ahmed M. Nabeel
  • , Wael A. Reda
  • , Sameh R. Tawadros
  • , Khaled Abdelkarim
  • Amr M.N. El-Shehaby, Reem M. Emad, Selcuk Peker, Yavuz Samanci, Rodney E. Wegner, Matthew J. Shepard, Roman Liscak, Gabriela Simonova, Timoteo Almeida, Carolina Benjamin, Douglas Kondziolka, Jason P. Sheehan, Ajay Niranjan, Constantinos G. Hadjipanayis, L. Dade Lunsford

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Pituitary metastases (PM) account for 0.4% of all intracranial metastases and typically present with visual and endocrinological deficits. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has shown excellent tumor control and safety profile in the management of intracranial metastases. However, its role and safety in managing metastases to the pituitary gland are not well-characterized. This study aims to evaluate SRS outcomes and safety profile in the management of PM in a multicenter international cohort. Methods: The authors retrospectively analyzed data from 63 patients with PM treated with SRS across 12 institutions, assessing clinical and radiological outcomes, including survival rates, tumor control, visual and endocrinological outcomes, and post-treatment complications. Results: Among 63 patients included in the study (median tumor volume: 1.5 cc), SRS demonstrated a local tumor control rate of 93.1% at 12 months. The median survival was 25.4 months and overall survival rates of 77.6%, 65.9%, and 55.1% at 6, 12, and 18 months, respectively. In multivariate analysis, a margin dose for PM > 10 Gy emerged as an independent predictor across progression-free survival (HR: 0.20, p < 0.01), distant metastasis-free survival (HR: 0.30, p = 0.01), and overall survival. (HR: 0.15, p < 0.01). Following SRS, most patients showed stable or improved visual function (n = 17/18). A small percentage of patients experienced complications: developed new visual deficits (n = 1/63), experienced new anterior pituitary hormone deficiency (n = 5/63), and developed arginine vasopressin (AVP)-deficiency post-treatment (n = 2/63). Conclusion: SRS is an important modality in the management of PM, offering excellent local tumor control and survival outcomes with minimal morbidity. These findings support the incorporation of SRS into the multidisciplinary management for treating patients with PM.

Original languageEnglish
Article number69
JournalPituitary
Volume28
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jun 2025
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Metastases
  • Pituitary neoplasms, hormonal outcomes
  • Progression-Free survival
  • Stereotactic radiosurgery
  • Survival analysis
  • Vision

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Endocrinology

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