Cystic versus non-cystic silent corticotrophic adenomas: clinical and histological analysis of 62 cases after microscopic transsphenoidal surgery—a retrospective, single-center study

Silent corticotrophic adenomas (SCAs) represent a rare group of non-functioning adenomas with a potentially aggressive clinical course. Cystic component is a very common finding among SCAs, but its clinical relevance has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze clinical features of cystic and non-cystic SCAs, perioperative complications after microscopic transsphenoidal surgery, clinical outcome after first and repeat surgery along with risk factors for recurrence. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 62 silent corticotrophic adenomas treated at our university medical center via microscopic transsphenoidal surgery between January 2008 and July 2019. Parameters investigated included histology, invasiveness, intratumoral haemorrhage or cystic component on MRI, perioperative alteration of visual field, tumor size, pre- and postoperative ACTH, FSH, GH, LH, TSH, prolactin, cortisol, free T4, free T3, IGF-1, estrogen and testosterone levels, perioperative complications, neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy along with clinical outcomes. A total of 62 patients were analyzed. The mean follow up was 28.3 months. Tumors with a cystic component occur statistically significant more often among male than non-cystic (80.6% vs. 44.4%, p = 0.02) and display lower rates of cavernous sinus invasion and sphenoid sinus invasion were significantly lower for cystic lesions comparing to non-cystic tumors (42.3% vs. 69.4%, p = 0.04 and 3.8% vs. 47.2%, p < 0.001). GTR after MTS was not statistically significant higher by cystic SCAs (80% vs. 57.1%, p = 0.09). Cystic lesions were also associated with higher risk of hyperprolactinemia (19.4% vs. 2.8%, p = 0.02) and only densely granulated cystic SCAs presented with preoperative intratumoral hemorrhage (19.2% vs. 0%, p = 0.01). Mean duration of first surgery was significantly shorter for cystic SCAs (71.6(± 18.7) vs. 94.8(± 31.1) minutes, p = 0.01). Preoperative pituitary insufficiency (25% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.49), intraoperative CSF space opening (21.1% vs. 37.5%, p = 0.32), along with postoperative new pituitary insufficiency (15% vs. 10%, p = 0.67) or diabetes insipidus/SIADH (10% vs. 13.3%, p > 0.99) with histological markers such as Ki67 (21.1% vs. 13.8%, p = 0.70) and p53 expression (6.3% vs. 0%, p = 0.39) as well as mitotic rate (5.3% vs. 10.3%, p > 0.99) were comparable between both groups. The presence of cystic component did not affect the tumor recurrence (10% vs. 16%, p = 0.68). Mean duration of surgery was first surgeries was not statistically shorter than repeat surgeries (85.4 ± 29.1 vs. 93.8 ± 28 min, p = 0.15). Patients undergoing first surgery had a higher probability of gross total resection (74.4% vs. 30%, p = 0.01) and lower probability of intraoperative CSF space opening (26% vs. 58.3%, p = 0.04) as well as a lower rate of preoperative anterior pituitary insufficiency (20% vs. 58.3%, p = 0.01). The incidence of new postoperative anterior pituitary insufficiency (10% vs. 0%, p = 0.57) and transient diabetes insipidus/SIADH (12% vs. 8.3%, p > 0.99) between those groups were comparable. No statistical difference was observed between patients with remission and with recurrent tumor regarding cortisol and ACTH levels, incidence of different histological subgroups, invasively growing tumors and lesions with cystic components as well as the percentage of cases with increased Ki67 proliferation index, p53 expression and mitotic indices. Our study presents one of the largest available cohorts of SCAs after microscopic transsphenoidal surgery and first clinical analysis of cystic versus non-cystic SCAs so far. We also performed the first comparison of index and repeat surgeries for this tumor entity. Cystic tumors presented with characteristic clinical aspects like male predominance, higher risk of hyperprolactinemia as well as lower rates of cavernous sinus and sphenoid sinus invasion comparing to non-cystic lesions. Mean duration of first surgery was significantly shorter for cystic SCAs. Moreover preoperative intratumoral hemorrhage had 100% specificity and 60% sensitivity for densely granulated cystic SCAs. All these clinical hallmarks may suggest a novel subgroup of SCAs with distinct clinical and biological features, however further clinical and molecular investigations are required. Second surgeries are associated with a higher incidence of preoperative pituitary insufficiency, and a higher risk of subtotal resection, and a higher probability of CSF space opening intraoperatively compared to first surgeries. On the other hand, the risk of new postoperative pituitary insufficiency was higher after first surgeries. In our cohort of patients, no prognostic factor for recurrence among histological diagnosis, Ki67-proliferation index, p53 expression, number of mitoses, invasive growth or cystic lesions for SCAs could be detected.