Presurgical Octreotide: Treatment in Acromegaly

One hundred seventy-two acromegalics who were operated on using the trans-sphenoidal approach underwent long-term follow-up evaluation. Sixty-four received 100 micrograms octreotide subcutaneously three times daily: for 3 to 6 weeks before surgery in 14 patients (group 1); and for 3 to 9 months in 41 and for 13 to 39 months in nine (n = 50, group 2). In 18 group 2 patients, the dose was increased stepwise to 500 micrograms three times daily because of incomplete suppression of growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Tumor shrinkage was seen in 60% within 3 weeks, being nearly maximal by 3 to 4 months. More group 2 patients had greater than 25% tumor shrinkage (14 of 48 v 1 of 14 in group 1). Clinical response was excellent or good in 89%. Decrease in soft-tissue swelling and weight loss, and improved vitality, performance, carbohydrate metabolism, and cardiovascular function, facilitated anesthetic and surgical management; tumor removal was easy in virtually all cases. In all 64 patients, GH levels decreased by > or = 50%, and to < 2 micrograms/L in three of 14 patients initially and 25 of 50 patients after more prolonged treatment. IGF-1 levels decreased to normal in seven of 14 group 1 and 31 of 50 group 2 patients. Light and electron microscopy showed that adenomatous tissue exposed to octreotide had lysosomal accumulation, amyloid deposition, mild to moderate perivascular fibrosis, and moderate size reduction in both cytoplasmic and nuclear areas, with virtually no cellular complications. Remission with enclosed adenomas was greater (p < .05) than for the 108 patients not treated with octreotide; there was no difference for invasive adenomas. Octreotide use for 3 to 4 months before surgery can be recommended.