Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism Before and After Transsphenoidal Surgery for Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenoma.
Hantelius V, et al
A new prospective study published in Clinical Endocrinology examined how transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) affects the reproductive hormone axis in patients with non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA), tumors that compress the pituitary gland without producing excess hormones. The study followed 122 patients — 73 men and 49 women — tracking their hormonal function and quality of life before and 12 months after surgery. Findings revealed that hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH), a condition where the pituitary fails to properly signal the reproductive glands, was common before surgery, affecting 68% of men and 62% of women of reproductive age. Recovery rates differed markedly by sex: only 8% of men with HH recovered after surgery, compared to 63% of women of reproductive age, and male sex along with pre-existing central hypothyroidism predicted persistent HH after the procedure. Importantly, only women who recovered their reproductive hormone function experienced a meaningful improvement in psychological well-being following surgery. These results highlight the need for sex-specific counseling and monitoring of hormonal and psychological outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for pituitary tumors.
Clinical endocrinology
Source →Cardiac Tamponade, Pituitary Hyperplasia, and Macroorchidism in Severe Primary Hypothyroidism.
Saha S, et al
A new case report published in JCEM Case Reports describes a rare and life-threatening presentation of severe primary hypothyroidism in an 18-year-old male who arrived at the emergency department struggling to breathe due to fluid accumulating around his heart, a condition called cardiac tamponade, which required emergency drainage. Thorough investigation uncovered signs of long-standing untreated hypothyroidism, including short stature, cognitive delay, abnormally enlarged testicles, and dramatically elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone levels alongside deficiencies in multiple other pituitary hormones. Brain imaging revealed a large mass in the pituitary gland region that closely resembled a pituitary tumor, raising concern for a potentially serious adenoma requiring surgery. Crucially, after starting treatment with levothyroxine and hydrocortisone, the patient improved substantially over six months, and the pituitary mass shrank significantly on follow-up MRI, confirming it was pituitary hyperplasia caused by the hypothyroidism rather than a true tumor. This case serves as an important reminder for clinicians that severe hypothyroidism can mimic life-threatening and surgical conditions, and that a careful trial of thyroid hormone replacement therapy is the correct first step before considering invasive interventions.
JCEM case reports
Source →Multiple presentations: a single pathology, primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). A multicenter study.
González-Aguilar A, et al
Researchers conducted a multicenter study examining the diverse clinical presentations of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), a rare and aggressive form of lymphoma that arises exclusively within the brain, spinal cord, or eyes. Despite being a single distinct pathological entity, PCNSL is known to manifest in strikingly different ways across patients, which can complicate and delay accurate diagnosis. The study pooled data from multiple clinical centers to characterize the range of symptoms, imaging findings, and clinical features through which PCNSL may first appear. The findings highlight that recognizing the broad spectrum of PCNSL presentations is essential for clinicians to avoid misdiagnosis and initiate timely, potentially life-saving treatment. This work underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for PCNSL even when its clinical picture is atypical, ultimately aiming to improve patient outcomes in this challenging disease.
Journal of neuro-oncology
Source →Neurosarcoidosis mimicking multiple meningiomas: illustrative case.
Suetsugu H, et al
Researchers report a rare case of neurosarcoidosis — a granulomatous inflammatory disease — that closely mimicked multiple meningiomas on brain imaging, presenting a significant diagnostic challenge. A 64-year-old man with blurred vision underwent brain MRI showing several uniformly enhancing lesions attached to the brain's outer coverings, strongly suggesting meningioma, a common benign brain tumor. Surgery was performed and even intraoperative frozen-section analysis pointed toward meningioma; only final pathological examination confirmed the true diagnosis of noncaseating granulomatous inflammation consistent with neurosarcoidosis. Following surgery, corticosteroid therapy led to dramatic reduction of the remaining lesions, and the patient's temporary nerve palsy resolved over nine months. This case highlights that neurosarcoidosis should be considered in patients with multiple extra-axial brain lesions, as recognizing its characteristic imaging features and inflammatory nature could spare patients from unnecessarily aggressive surgery and guide prompt medical treatment instead.
Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons
Source →The Ki-67 proliferation index and recurrence risk of intracranial meningioma: a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of 5,050 patients.
Mirian C, et al
A large international study involving 5,050 patients across 42 centers has investigated whether the Ki-67 proliferation index — a laboratory marker reflecting how quickly tumor cells divide — can predict the recurrence of intracranial meningiomas after surgery. Researchers found that the predictive value of Ki-67 depends critically on both the WHO tumor grade and the extent of surgical removal, known as the Simpson grade. Among patients with complete or near-complete resections (Simpson grades 1–3), Ki-67 was more informative for grade 2 than grade 1 meningiomas, and its accuracy improved when less tumor was removed. Notably, Ki-67 offered no predictive value in cases where only partial resection (Simpson grade 4) was achieved, regardless of tumor grade. These findings suggest that Ki-67 should not be interpreted in isolation but rather alongside tumor grade and surgical outcome to guide personalized follow-up strategies during the first decade after surgery. Clinicians are cautioned that the results should not be applied beyond the 10-year postoperative window, especially for low-grade tumors with favorable surgical outcomes.
Acta neurochirurgica
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