Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and abnormal pituitary cells and shrink tumors. Radiation for pituitary tumors these days almost always comes from a radiation source outside the body (external radiation therapy). Radiation therapy may be...
Rarely pituitary adenomas can occur in families. If no other abnormality is associated then this condition is called Familial Isolated Pituitary Adenoma. Most often family members have acromegaly or prolactinoma, sometimes other types of adenomas. Further information...
Headaches Eating Disorders Depression Anorexia Mood/Emotion Swings Obesity Anger Bulimia Loss of Memory Weight Gain Loss of Sleep Diabetes Sexual Dysfunction Infertility Lethargy Impotence Weakness in Limbs Irregular Menses High Blood Pressure Lactating Unusual Hair...
If diagnosed early enough, the prognosis is typically excellent. If not, some tumors can grow into macroadenomas that press on the optic nerves (causing loss of peripheral vision and, in some cases, blindness), the brain (impacting function) and the pituitary...
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) causes the thyroid gland to produce and release thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormone controls the basal metabolic rate and plays an important role in growth and maturation. Thyroid hormones affect almost every organ in the body. Growth...
If there is a substantial amount of a non-secretory tumor remaining after a transsphenoidal operation, radiation therapy can be used to halt further growth of the residual tumor. There are now a number of different forms of radiation treatment available for pituitary...
For hormone secreting tumors (Cushings, acromegaly, prolactinomas), blood and urine tests in the days or weeks following surgery provide the answer. For non-secreting tumors, pituitary MRI scans are used to determine this. Some centers, such as Massachusetts General...
At a major pituitary center, such the Neuroendocrine Clinical Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, you will be managed by a team of physicians. This includes your neurosurgeon, a staff neuroendocrinologist and the residents and fellows who work with them. The...
The opening through which transsphenoidal surgery is performed is very small, about an inch. Therefore, it is not possible to look with unaided vision at the surgical area or tumor. However, modern technology has developed tools for visualizing the area of the tumor...
Yes, but they are very rare. There is a very small chance of damaging the carotid arteries which are located on either side of the pituitary. This is a potentially devastating complication which could lead to stroke or death. It occurs very infrequently, when the...
