AUTHOR=Xie Shan , Shao Zhilin , Shao Dongqi , Zheng Xialin , Tang Huadong , Li Yu , Zhang Renhao , Wu Tianyang , Lang Hao , Xu Rui , Li Chenxi , Cheng Hongwei , Jiang Zhiquan 

TITLE=Correlation between intrasellar pressure, pituitary adenoma invasiveness, pituitary dysfunction, and apoplexy

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1700711

DOI=10.3389/fendo.2025.1700711

ISSN=1664-2392

ABSTRACT=BackgroundFew studies have reported the association between intrasellar pressure (ISP) and tumor invasiveness, hypopituitarism, or pituitary apoplexy in patients with pituitary adenomas. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between intraoperatively measured ISP and pituitary adenoma invasiveness, as well as to assess whether elevated ISP is associated with hypopituitarism and pituitary apoplexy.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 84 patients with newly diagnosed pituitary adenomas who underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University between January 2024 and March 2025. ISP was measured intraoperatively. Tumor invasiveness was assessed using the Hardy-Wilson and Knosp grading systems on preoperative MRI. Tumor volume was calculated with 3D-Slicer software. Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to evaluate associations between ISP, tumor volume, invasiveness, hypopituitarism, and pituitary apoplexy.ResultsThe mean intraoperative ISP was 30.91 ± 7.03 mmHg. Patients with Hardy-Wilson grade III–IV or Knosp grade 3–4 tumors had significantly higher ISP than those with lower grades. Tumor volume correlated positively with ISP, with tumor height showing the strongest correlation. Elevated ISP leads to a higher preoperative incidence of adrenal insufficiency, an increased risk of preoperative hypothyroidism, and a greater likelihood of preoperative hyperprolactinemia in patients with pituitary adenomas, but it shows no clear association with pituitary apoplexy. No significant correlation was observed between ISP and pituitary apoplexy or postoperative hypopituitarism at 12 weeks.ConclusionISP is strongly associated with tumor invasiveness and tumor volume in pituitary adenomas. Elevated ISP increases the risk of preoperative adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, and hyperprolactinemia, but does not appear to affect pituitary apoplexy or postoperative hypopituitarism at 12 weeks.