Comparing neuroendocrine recovery between surgical and conservative management in pituitary apoplexy patients: a propensity score-matched analysis.

ABSTRACT

Pituitary apoplexy is a rare and potentially life-threatening clinical syndrome. Patients may present with severeneuro-ophthalmologic or endocrine symptoms. Current evidence is unclear whether conservative or surgicalmanagement leads to the best neuroendocrine outcomes. This study aimed to compare neuroendocrine outcomesbetween surgical and conservative treatments in a single center. Cases of patients with pituitary apoplexy whoreceived transsphenoidal surgery or conservative management in Songklanagarind Hospital between January 1,2005 and December 31, 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. A propensity score matching method was used toadjust bias from treatment selection (surgery or conservative treatment). Differences in visual field, visual acuity,cranial nerve, and endocrine outcomes between the surgical and conservative treatment groups were analyzedusing logistic regression analysis. This study included 127 patients, with 98 and 29 patients in the surgical and theconservative treatment group, respectively. The optimal matching method was used for propensity score matching.Compared to the conservative group, the surgically treated patients had a significantly higher rate of visual fieldrecovery (odds ratio (OR) 12.89, P = 0.007). However, there were no statistical differences in the recovery rate ofpreoperative visual acuity, cranial nerve, and endocrine deficits between the groups. Transsphenoidal surgery wasassociated with a higher rate of visual field recovery when compared to the conservative treatment for pituitaryapoplexy patients. Careful selection of appropriate treatment based on the patient's presentation andneuroendocrine status will result in the best outcomes while avoiding unnecessary surgical intervention.