J Neurol Surg B Skull Base 2019; 80(S 01): S1-S244
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1679598
Oral Presentations
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Temporal Trends in the Use of Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Pituitary Adenoma in the National Cancer Database

Ramie A. Fathy
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
,
Edward C. Kuan
2   Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, UC Irvine Medical Center, Orange, California, United States
,
John Y. Lee
3   Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
,
M. Sean Grady
3   Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
,
Michelle Alonso-Basanta
4   Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
,
James N. Palmer
5   Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
,
Nithin D. Adappa
5   Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
,
Bert W. O'Malley Jr
5   Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
,
Jason A. Brant
5   Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
06 February 2019 (online)

Also available atMedOne
 
 

    Purpose: Radiation therapy represents an uncommon but important component of treatment plans for some pituitary adenomas. Although radiation therapy has been used to treat pituitary adenomas for over a century, general trends in the usage of radiation therapy for this purpose have not been reviewed. Investigating these trends and identifying any variations in radiation therapy utilization would help to better inform treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes.

    Design: Retrospective analysis of cases using the National Cancer Database.

    Setting: Tertiary academic medical center.

    Participants: Patients diagnosed with pituitary adenoma between 2004 and 2014 within the NCDB.

    Main Outcome Measures: Incorporation of radiation therapy into treatment for pituitary adenoma.

    Methods: Temporal trends in the usage of radiation therapy to treat pituitary adenoma were analyzed through a retrospective analysis of 76,336 pituitary adenoma cases from the National Cancer Database between 2004 and 2014. Univariate and multivariate analyses examine the relationship between patient, tumor, and treatment factors and the incorporation of radiation therapy into the treatment of pituitary adenomas. We adjusted for potential confounders such as age, sex, race, comorbidity score, facility type, and year of diagnosis.

    Results: A total of 76,336 patients met inclusion criteria. Inclusion of radiation therapy in pituitary adenoma treatment was 8.0% in 2004 and steadily declined to a low of 3.1% in 2014. Overall, patients were less likely to receive radiation for their pituitary adenoma over time (p < 0.001). Over time, IMRT and Gamma Knife became the most commonly used radiation modality, replacing EBRT as the most employed radiation type for pituitary adenomas.

    Conclusion: In this sample of pituitary adenoma patients treated at National Cancer Database institutions between 2004 and 2014, we found a steady decline in the incorporation of radiation therapy in treatment.


     

    No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).