Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Survival of dogs with pituitary tumors after radiotherapy
By Rapastella, Sofia et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2023·Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effect of pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism on the survival of dogs treated with radiotherapy for pituitary macroadenomas.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 94 dogs with pituitary tumors, some suffering from pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism (PDH), underwent radiotherapy to treat their condition. The study found that dogs with PDH did not have a significantly different survival rate compared to those without hormonal issues. However, dogs that received a definitive radiotherapy protocol lived longer than those who received palliative care. The amount of radiation delivered was the key factor linked to increased survival, suggesting that higher doses may improve outcomes for these dogs.
People also search for: dog pituitary tumor treatment · radiotherapy for dogs with PDH · dog survival after pituitary tumor surgery
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy (RT) is an effective treatment for dogs presented with neurologic signs caused by pituitary tumors. However, its impact on the outcome of concurrent pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism (PDH) is controversial. OBJECTIVES: Determine whether dogs with PDH have longer survival after pituitary RT compared with dogs with nonhormonally active pituitary masses and to evaluate whether clinical, imaging, and RT variables affect survival. ANIMALS: Ninety-four dogs divided into 2 groups: PDH and non-PDH, based on the presence of hypercortisolism. Forty-seven dogs were allocated to the PDH group and 47 to the non-PDH group. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study in which clinical records of dogs undergoing RT for pituitary macroadenomas between 2008 and 2018 at 5 referral centers were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Survival was not statistically different between PDH and non-PDH groups (median survival time [MST], 590 days; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0-830 days and 738 days; 95% CI, 373-1103 days, respectively; P = .4). A definitive RT protocol was statistically associated with longer survival compared with a palliative protocol (MST 605 vs 262 days, P = .05). The only factor statistically associated with survival from multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis was total radiation dose (Gy) delivered (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: No statistical difference in survival was identified between the PDH and non-PDH groups, and longer survival was associated with higher Gy delivered.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37218395/