Pituitary tumor examination items

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 21, 2024
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For patients with pituitary tumors, it is first recommended to perform a cranial CT or MRI examination, and if necessary, a cranial MRI with contrast and a pituitary MRI with contrast can be done to help determine the specific location, size, and relationship of the pituitary tumor with surrounding important blood vessels and nerves. Additionally, blood tests are needed to examine the levels of endocrine hormones in the body, including cortisol, growth hormone, prolactin, thyroid hormones, and other related hormone levels. Furthermore, further examinations of the patient's cardiopulmonary function, such as electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and chest CT scans, are also required.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Is a pituitary tumor easy to treat?

Our current understanding of pituitary tumors is quite deep, and we have accumulated rich treatment experience in the pathogenesis, disease progression, and treatment of pituitary tumors. Therefore, it is recommended to use surgical methods for pituitary tumor patients, especially those with obvious symptoms. Clinically, it is generally recommended to choose the transnasal-transsphenoidal approach for a complete resection of the pituitary tumor. For most patients, this can achieve good therapeutic effects. Moreover, with the continuous advancement of diagnostic techniques, early detection and treatment of small early pituitary microadenomas through complete surgical resection can also achieve good therapeutic outcomes.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Is pituitary tumor surgery dangerous?

For patients with pituitary tumors, undergoing pituitary tumor surgery carries certain risks. The main risks are due to the important blood vessels, nerves, and various crucial structures around the pituitary tumor. Careless maneuvers during the surgery may damage these important organs or affect the surrounding crucial blood vessels, leading to potentially fatal massive bleeding. Additionally, some common surgical risks may also exist, such as anesthesia accidents, postoperative intracranial infections, cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, and other conditions. Therefore, for pituitary tumor patients, it is necessary to prepare thoroughly for the surgery and make a comprehensive assessment of the patient's overall condition before the procedure.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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How to treat pituitary tumors?

Currently, the treatment of pituitary tumors can generally be conducted through various methods such as surgery, medication, and radiation therapy. The specific choice of treatment for a patient depends on the patient's individual circumstances, including factors such as gender, age, the current size of the pituitary tumor, whether there is damage to other vital organs, and the patient's overall condition. For most symptomatic patients, surgery is usually recommended. Clinically, it is generally recommended to choose transnasal transsphenoidal surgery for complete removal, which often achieves very good therapeutic effects. However, for some pituitary tumors located in special positions where complete surgical removal is not achievable, radiation therapy or Gamma Knife surgery can be used in conjunction.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
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How many days of hospitalization for pituitary tumor surgery?

For patients with pituitary tumors, it normally takes about one to two weeks to undergo surgery and be hospitalized. After surgery, it is appropriate for patients to rest in bed and refrain from getting up too early, mainly to monitor for any occurrence of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. Premature activity might lead to cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea or even trigger intracranial infections. Additionally, after surgery, it is important to perform blood tests to check the levels of endocrine hormones in the body, primarily to assess whether important electrolyte and hormone levels are normal. If there are abnormalities, adjustments should be made promptly, and discharge can be considered once the patient's condition is stable.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Pituitary tumor should see which department?

For pituitary tumors in the brain, it is generally recommended to seek treatment in neurosurgery. It is advised to choose a well-known neurosurgical hospital locally, or the neurosurgery department of a top-tier hospital, and consult with an experienced surgeon. The diagnosis should be further clarified based on the patient's symptoms, signs, and combined with cranial CT, cranial MRI, including enhanced MRI scans. Often, it is also necessary to test the levels of endocrine hormones in the patient's blood for a comprehensive assessment. Once confirmed as a pituitary tumor, clinically, it is advised that surgery is the best treatment option. Most patients gradually experience relief from their original symptoms after undergoing surgery.