Abstract
Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) are regarded as benign, slowly growing tumors. However, aggressive proliferation is not exceptional, especially in younger patients.
The aim of the study was to investigate the natural growth patterns of NFPAs and to identify the factos affecting volume progression. As part of the study, nuclear marker Ki-67 was tested as a potentially reliable indicator of postoperative remnant growth potential.
Based on the results, the following conclusions can be drawn: the rate of NFPAs growth depends on the patient´s age. This fact is useful for treatment strategy as well as postoperative monitoring.
The Ki-67 proliferation marker, well-established in human oncology, cannot be considered as a reliable predicitive marker of NFPAs growth in our recent study.