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Autopsy studies and imaging studies in healthy volunteers suggest that at least 10% of adults have pituitary microadenomas; these lesions often are incidental findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To examine their natural history, researchers in the Mass General Brigham healthcare system identified 177 patients who had pituitary microadenomas (size, ≤10 mm) and at least 1 follow-up MRI (median, 4 MRIs including the initial one). Patients with hyperprolactinemia were excluded.
At baseline, median microadenoma size was 4 mm. During median follow-up of 5 years, size remained unchanged in 44% of patients, increased in 28%, decreased in 19%, and increased but later decreased in 9%. Lesions >4 mm tended to decrease in size with follow-up; …