When is it appropriate to treat acromegaly with Sandostatin®?
Sandostatin® is typically used as second-line treatment in patients whose GH levels remain elevated after surgery, or in those patients for whom surgical resection is not an option. 5 Based on the results of independent investigations, it has been proposed that it should also be considered as first-line treatment in patients with acromegaly caused by a macroadenoma, in whom the chances of surgical cure are reduced.18 Recent treatment guidelines also suggest that selected patients with unacceptable anesthetic risk, or cardiovascular and/or pulmonary complications may benefit from primary therapy with Sandostatin®.5 In addition, studies have shown that pre-operative treatment of patients with Sandostatin® can improve surgical outcome, shrinking and softening tumours, facilitating their resection.11,19,20 In one recent study, improved surgical remission was associated with endocrinological remission in patients with microadenomas and potentially respectable macroadenomas given pre-operati
