Non‐functioning pituitary adenomas with positive immunoreactivity for ACTH behave more aggressively than ACTH immunonegative tumours but do not recur more frequently

Abstract

This is the first single-centre comparative study of a series of clinically silent ACTH immunopositive tumours and has demonstrated that although they do not recur more often than ACTH immunonegative tumours, when they do regrow they show a more aggressive course. The practical implication of this is that there is no evidence for different postoperative imaging and radiotherapy protocols for ACTH immunopositive and immunonegative NFAs at initial presentation. However, if regrowth of a silent corticotroph tumour does occur then very careful monitoring is essential, after further treatment.