associations of ki-67 labeling index with clinical and paraclinical features of growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas: a single center report from iran

Backgroundacromegaly is a rare disorder resulting from benign growth hormone (gh)-secreting pituitary adenomas in 90% of the cases. in recent years, many researchers have studied the ki-67 index level of pituitary tumors and its relationship with demographics, biochemical parameters, clinical behavior, and recurrence rate.objectivesthis study aimed to evaluate the correlation of ki-67 index level with clinicoradiological and endocrinological parameters in confirmed gh-secreting pituitary adenomas, as well as with the surgical response and medical treatment after surgery.methodswe collected the medical and pathologic records of 49 patients with gh-secreting pituitary adenoma who underwent surgeries from 2008 to 2017 in shariati hospital affiliated to tehran university of medical sciences.resultsaccording to mri reports, 94% of the tumors were macroadenomas. the mri findings also revealed the median maximal adenoma diameter of 18.5 mm. about 40% of the patients achieved remission three months after the surgery. younger patients had a significantly higher ki-67 index level (p = 0.036). we did not observe any significant difference in the ki-67 index level regarding gender, tumor type, maximal tumor diameter, tumor invasiveness, tumor secretory type, and remission. interestingly, the ki-67 index level was negatively correlated with the insulin-like growth factor-1 (igf-1) level at the last follow-up (p = 0.02). in logistic regression analysis, patients with higher preoperative gh serum levels had a better outcome.conclusionsour results indicated a negative correlation between age and ki-67 index level. however, there was no association between the ki-67 index level and some tumor behaviors, as well as short- and long-term remission.