Prevalence and characteristics of sellar masses in the city of Al Ain, United Arab Emirates: 2011 to 2016

• Published in: Annals of Saudi medicine 2020-03, Vol.40 (2), p.105-112
• Main Authors: Aldahmani, Khaled M., Sreedharan, Jayadevan, Ismail, Mohamad Milad, Philip, Jim, Nair, Satish Chandrasekhar, Alfelasi, Mohammad, Aziz, Waseem, Imran, Syed Ali, Alkaabi, Juma
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 0256-4947; 0975-4466
• DOI: 10.5144/0256-4947.2020.105

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of sellar masses (SMs) is reported in Europe and North America but only limited data are available from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. OBJECTIVES: Assess the prevalence and characteristics of SMs in Al Ain city, United Arab Emirates. DESIGN: Retrospective, descriptive multicenter study. SETTING: Three endocrine centers in Al Ain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients diagnosed with SMs in the city of Al Ain, Emirate of Abu Dhabi, between 2011 and 2016 were evaluated. Cases were identified using ICD 9 and 10 codes and demographic and clinical data were collected. The prevalence rate was calculated for patients alive and residing in Al Ain city until 31 December 2016. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical presentations and prevalence rate. SAMPLE SIZE: 272. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age on presentation was 40.8 (14.3) years (range: 6-114 years, median: 40.0). The 170 (61.8%) females and 128 (46.5%) were native citizens of the United Arab Emirates. Two hundred and forty five (90%) patients had pituitary adenomas (PAs) while 27 (10%) had non-pituitary sellar lesions. The four most common SMs were prolactinoma (n=139, 51.1%), nonfunctioning adenoma (NFA) (n= 69, 25.4%), somatotroph adenoma (n=32, 11.8%) and craniopharyngioma (n=15, 5.5%). Patients with prolactinoma, corticotroph adenoma, and Rathke’s cleft cyst had small sellar masses (