Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of Patients with Non-Functional Pituitary Adenomas: A Retrospective Single- Center Study

Objectives: Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) are typically diagnosed due to tumor mass effects rather than hormone hypersecretion. However, variability in clinical presentation and outcomes remains incompletely defined. Methods: This retrospective study included 200 patients diagnosed with NFPAs between 2013 and 2020. Clinical fea-tures, hormonal parameters, tumor size, and follow-up outcomes were analyzed.
Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 41.31 years. Macroadenomas were more frequent in males, whereas microad-enomas predominated in females (p=0.002). Headache, hypogonadal symptoms, and fatigue were the most common presenting complaints. Mass effect–related symptoms were more prominent in males and larger tumors (p<0.05). The most frequent hormonal abnormalities were growth hormone deficiency (22%), central hypogonadism (17.5%), and central hypothyroidism (15.5%), with a higher prevalence in larger tumors (p<0.05). Visual field defects were identified in 16% of patients and were strongly associated with larger tumors (p<0.001). Tumor size remained stable at one year, although new hormonal deficiencies developed during follow-up.
Conclusion: NFPAs demonstrate distinct sex- and size-related clinical patterns. Men tend to present later with larger tumors and a higher burden of mass effect–related symptoms. Progressive endocrine dysfunction may occur despite radiological stability, underscoring the need for long-term follow-up.

Keywords: Hypopituitarism, macroadenoma, non-functioning pituitary adenoma, pituitary incidentaloma, transsphe-noidal surgery