Neuroendocrinological Diseases in the Municipality of Chapecó, Santa Catarina, Brazil: A Retrospective Observational Study

Abstract

Due to the scarcity of information on pituitary diseases, this study aimed to identify the clinical and therapeutic profile of patients with pituitary disorders, including prolactinoma, acromegaly, and Cushing’s syndrome, treated at a neuroendocrinology referral clinic. This is a retrospective observational cohort study based on the analysis of electronic medical records of patients over 18 years of age with neuroendocrine disorders who consented to the use of their data. The variables collected from the medical records were organized in Excel and analyzed using statistical software. Thirty records were reviewed, and it was observed that men had significantly larger lesions (18.5 mm) compared to women (6.82 mm), which may be attributed to greater symptom awareness among women and delayed healthcare-seeking behavior among men. Acromegaly was diagnosed at an average age of 61.5 years, with an estimated diagnostic delay of approximately 10 years. Cushing’s syndrome typically affected more women than men, with symptoms occurring between 30 and 60 years of age; the mean age at diagnosis in this study was 47 years. The study confirmed that prolactinoma is more prevalent among women of reproductive age. Nineteen patients (63.3%) with this diagnosis received first-line pharmacological treatment with cabergoline or bromocriptine, seven patients (23.3%) received no treatment, and one (3.3%) underwent surgery. Among patients with acromegaly, one (3.3%) underwent surgery, while two others (6.7%) were treated with octreotide or lanreotide, highlighting therapeutic variability. Additionally, the only patient with Cushing’s syndrome underwent surgery, the first-line treatment for this condition. The profile of patients with prolactinoma was predominantly female, treated clinically with cabergoline or bromocriptine, and characterized by smaller lesions compared to males. The findings of this study provide regional data on the prevalence, incidence, and treatment of pituitary disorders and serve as a foundation for future research on the subject.