Russian Open Medical Journal · Published 2026-06-30 · DOI 10.15275/rusomj.2026.0206
Musaab Alhussein, Ammar Almomin, Abbas Mansour
Background — Non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) is a benign tumor that does not secrete excess hormones but can cause a mass effect. Objective — This study evaluated the clinical characteristics, treatment methods, complications, and outcomes of patients with NFPAs at the Faiha Specialized Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolism Center (FDEMC) in Basra, Iraq. Methods — A retrospective analysis of 202 patients with NFPAs diagnosed between January 2011 and January 2025 was conducted using the FDEMC electronic database. Radiologically confirmed NFPA with a normal hormonal profile or moderate hyperprolactinemia were the inclusion criteria. Collected data included demographics, clinical picture, radiological findings, treatment methods, and postoperative complications. IBM SPSS Statistics was employed for statistical analysis. Statistical significance was assumed at p<0.05. Results — In the cohort (mean age 44.25±15.88 years, 59.4% women), macroadenomas predominated (76.2%), with their frequency increasing with age (p<0.001). The most common symptoms were headache (33.2%), adrenal insufficiency (31.7%), hypopituitarism (26.2%), and visual field defects (23.3%). Macroadenomas were more often accompanied by visual field defects (29.9% vs. 2.1%, p<0.001), hypopituitarism (33.1% vs. 4.2%, p<0.001), and adrenal insufficiency (40.3% vs. 4.2%, p<0.001) than microadenomas. Hyperprolactinemia was observed in 44.4% of patients, with no differences depending on adenoma size (p=0.849). Transsphenoidal surgery was performed in 43.6% of cases; conservative treatment was used in 48% of cases. Postoperative complications included secondary empty sella syndrome (ESS) (18.8%), residual tumor (23.8%), and diabetes insipidus (6.4%). Conclusion — Macroadenomas prevailed; transsphenoidal surgery was their primary treatment. The high incidence of obesity and hyperprolactinemia warrants further investigation of their association with NFPA. Prospective studies with longer follow-up periods are needed to optimize treatment and outcomes.
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Alhussein, M., Almomin, A., Mansour, A. (2026). Characteristics of Clinically Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenomas in Basrah. Russian Open Medical Journal. https://doi.org/10.15275/rusomj.2026.0206