ABSTRACT Objectives The main purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence rate and prevalence of clinically relevant pituitary adenomas (PAs) within the Hospital Italiano Medical Care Program (HIMCP), a well-defined population of 150,000 members living in the urban and suburban area of the city of Buenos Aires. We defined clinically relevant PAs as those associated with endocrine dysfunction and/or mass effect. Subjects and methods A retrospective open cohort study was conducted, including all members of the HIMCP over 18 years old, with active memberships during the period of the study, from January 1st 2003, to January 1, 2014. The incidence rates (IRs) were standardized (SIR) to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2000 standard population and were expressed per 100,000 members/year. Prevalence was estimated at January 1, 2014, and was expressed per 100,000 persons. The clinical records have been electronically managed since 2001. All lab and imaging studies were done in-house. Results The overall SIR was 7.39/100,000/year (95% CI 4.47-10.31). Female patients had a specific IR significantly higher than male patients (5.85 vs.1.54) and represented 73% of the affected members. Regarding tumor size, 61.4% were microadenomas, and the mean age at diagnosis was 46.4 years. Prolactinomas had the highest SIR (5.41), followed by acromegaly (Acro) and non-functioning adenomas (NFAs) with overlapping 95% CIs (0.44-1.41 and 0.31-0.99, respectively). Microprolactinomas were more frequent in female (72.6%) (p < 0.01) and younger members (38 vs.60 years; p < 0.04). The overall prevalence rate was 97.76/100,000. Prolactinomas had the highest prevalence (56.29), followed by NFAs (21.48), Acro (14.07) and CD (5.93). Conclusion Our results demonstrate that clinically relevant PAs are more common than usually suspected, especially prolactinomas and growth-hormone secreting PAs. These data highlight the need to increase the awareness of PAs, thereby enabling early diagnosis and treatment.

Objectives. To report a case of esthesioneuroblastoma associated to hypopituitarism as a late complication of its treatment, to review the literature regarding treatment and prognosis and to resent a guideline for the diagnosis of hypopituitarism in these patients. Description. A 68-year-old male patient presented with a submaxilar metastasis of a very large esthesioneuroblastoma that involved both ethmoidal bones and invaded left cribiform plate and frontal lobe. Intervention. The patient underwent combined modality treatment with preoperative radio and chemotherapy, and craniofacial sugery of the tumor. Twenty months later he was admitted with a seizure and severe hyponatremia. A diagnosis of panhypopituitarism was made, and his sodium reverted to normal with de administration of 10 mg of hydrocortisone p.o. Conclusions Esthesioneuroblastomas are rare tumours that require multimodality treatment with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Hypopituitarism is a late and potentially fatal complication that must be suspected and tested during the patients‘ whole lifespan.

Objetivo. Presentar un caso de estesioneuroblastoma que desarrolla hipopituitarismo como complicación grave de su tratamiento. Realizar una revisión de la literatura reciente sobre el tratamiento y pronóstico de estos tumores. Presentar una sistemática de pesquisa de hipopituitarismo en estos pacientes. Descripción. Paciente masculino de 68 años que se presenta con metástasis submaxilar de estesioneuroblastoma. La RMN mostraba una masa neoplásica de gran tamaño centrada sobre el etmoides, que comprometía base de cráneo y corteza fronto-orbitaria izquierda. Intervención. Se realizó tratamiento combinado de radio y quimioterapia preoperatorias, y cirugía por vía craniofacial. A los 20 meses ingresa con un cuadro convulsivo e hiponatremia grave. Se hace diagnóstico de panhipopituitarismo y el cuadro revierte con la administración de hidrocortisona 10 mg vía oral. Conclusión. El estesioneuroblastoma es un tumor infrecuente cuyo tratamiento incluye cirugía, radioterapia, y quimioterapia. Es necesario un alto índice de sospecha y el seguimiento de por vida para pesquisar la instalación del hipopituitarismo como complicación grave de su tratamiento.

Objectives. To report a case of esthesioneuroblastoma associated to hypopituitarism as a late complication of its treatment, to review the literature regarding treatment and prognosis and to resent a guideline for the diagnosis of hypopituitarism in these patients. Description. A 68-year-old male patient presented with a submaxilar metastasis of a very large esthesioneuroblastoma that involved both ethmoidal bones and invaded left cribiform plate and frontal lobe. Intervention. The patient underwent combined modality treatment with preoperative radio and chemotherapy, and craniofacial sugery of the tumor. Twenty months later he was admitted with a seizure and severe hyponatremia. A diagnosis of panhypopituitarism was made, and his sodium reverted to normal with de administration of 10 mg of hydrocortisone p.o. Conclusions Esthesioneuroblastomas are rare tumours that require multimodality treatment with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Hypopituitarism is a late and potentially fatal complication that must be suspected and tested during the patients' whole lifespan.

Objetivo. Presentar un caso de estesioneuroblastoma que desarrolla hipopituitarismo como complicación grave de su tratamiento. Realizar una revisión de la literatura reciente sobre el tratamiento y pronóstico de estos tumores. Presentar una sistemática de pesquisa de hipopituitarismo en estos pacientes. Descripción. Paciente masculino de 68 años que se presenta con metástasis submaxilar de estesioneuroblastoma. La RMN mostraba una masa neoplásica de gran tamaño centrada sobre el etmoides, que comprometía base de cráneo y corteza fronto-orbitaria izquierda. Intervención. Se realizó tratamiento combinado de radio y quimioterapia preoperatorias, y cirugía por vía craniofacial. A los 20 meses ingresa con un cuadro convulsivo e hiponatremia grave. Se hace diagnóstico de panhipopituitarismo y el cuadro revierte con la administración de hidrocortisona 10 mg vía oral. Conclusión. El estesioneuroblastoma es un tumor infrecuente cuyo tratamiento incluye cirugía, radioterapia, y quimioterapia. Es necesario un alto índice de sospecha y el seguimiento de por vida para pesquisar la instalación del hipopituitarismo como complicación grave de su tratamiento.