Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology, December 1991, Volume 11, Issue 4

Pituitary tumor volume as a predictor of postoperative visual field recovery. Quantitative analysis using automated static perimetry and computed tomography morphometry.

We attempted to define the relationship between the volume of pituitary adenomas and postoperative visual field recovery. Fourteen consecutive patients (27 eyes) were studied who presented with visual complaints and who were confirmed to have pituitary macroadenomas at the time of resection. For each eye, preoperative visual field loss in each quadrant as well as whole field loss were analyzed. Tumor volume was determined from computed tomography scans by summing serial axial sections. Statistically significant correlations (p less than 0.05) of preoperative superonasal and whole visual field loss with tumor volume were found. Postoperative visual field recovery was determined for each patient by subtracting the postoperative visual field loss from the preoperative field loss. Postoperative inferonasal field recovery was significantly correlated (p less than 0.01) with whole tumor volume, with markedly greater recovery in patients with tumor volumes of 5 cc or less. In general, tumor volume proved to be a poor predictor of postoperative visual field recovery.