The epidemiology of pituitary adenomas in a community-based hospital: A retrospective single center study in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Data on pituitary adenoma (PA) prevalence in Saudi Arabia are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the epidemiology of PA in a well-defined population DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Departments of Endocrinology and Radiology at King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Radiological and hormonal data of patients with pituitary adenoma by MRI were reviewed for the period January 2008 to December 2015. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of PA and hormonal abnormalities. RESULTS: Of 537 patients; 249 subjects (46.4%), 70 (28.1%) males and 179 (71.9%) females, were diagnosed to have PA with mean age 36.3 (14.1) years. Microadenoma and macroadenoma were seen in 171 (69%) and 78 (31%) subjects, respectively. Microadenomas were more prevalent than macroadenomas (68.7% vs. 31.3%). Microadenomas were significantly more prevalent in females, 131 (73.2 %) vs. 40 (57.1%) whereas macroadenomas were significantly more prevalent in males, 30 (42.9%) vs. 48 (26.8%) (P