Pituitary Adenoma
Pituitary adenomas are benign tumors that develop in the pituitary gland and may have very different characteristics. Due to the hormones produced by these tumors, they affect patients very differently. If you have a pituitary adenoma you may have symptoms that can affect your quality of life or you may have no symptoms at all.
Our Approach to Treating Pituitary Adenoma
Advanced Methods to Locate and Treat Your Tumor
We use specialized methods to locate and identify pituitary adenomas including advanced imaging and inferior petrosal sinus sampling. Once your tumor has been located, your pituitary adenoma treatment will depend on many factors: the tumor’s size, whether it’s pressing on surrounding tissue or producing a hormone, and, if so, identifying which hormone it is producing (such as prolactin or ACTH).
Hormonal Therapy
Your pituitary adenoma will be classified as either functioning or non-functioning. If your pituitary adenoma is functioning, that means it is making hormones, such as those that stimulate the thyroid gland or stimulate growth. To help stop this abnormal hormone production we use highly effective medications and in some cases, is the only treatment you need. In other cases, we may use hormonal therapy to shrink the tumor before surgery or following surgery to keep the tumor under control.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
If you need surgery, our neurosurgeons are highly skilled in the most advanced procedures for treating pituitary adenomas. We carefully plan each procedure using refined mapping and imaging techniques to maximize the removal of the tumor in the safest manner possible. Using endonasal endoscopic surgery, we can often remove even large pituitary tumors through the nostrils, with no incisions or scarring.
Precision Radiation Therapy
You may have radiation therapy to treat your tumor if surgery is not an option. Radiation therapy can also be given after surgery to target any remaining cells so your tumor is less likely to grow back, or if your symptoms persist despite hormonal medication. Our neurosurgeons work closely with our radiation oncologists to determine the best course of treatment for you, including several types of stereotactic radiosurgery to administer precise, high-dose radiation treatment.