What should I do about a pituitary tumor?

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 05, 2024
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When a pituitary tumor occurs, we generally recommend surgery as the treatment method. Of course, specific analysis should be done based on the individual circumstances of the patient before surgery. In cases where the tumor is small and there are no obvious clinical symptoms—discovered incidentally during other related examinations—such patients can temporarily take medication and should be closely monitored with regular follow-ups to observe any changes in their condition. However, for patients who have clear clinical symptoms and display endocrine hormone imbalances, such as men experiencing significant erectile dysfunction and women having menstrual disorders, surgery is generally recommended as the treatment method.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Can pituitary tumors cause headaches?

For patients with pituitary tumors, headaches may occur. Most patients in the early stages often experience mild headaches located behind the eye sockets, the forehead, and on both sides of the temporal area. These headaches are generally tolerable and occur intermittently. They are mostly caused by the stimulation of the tumor or the increased pressure inside the sella. When the tumor enlarges to a certain extent and breaks upward through the diaphragm sellae, headaches are often alleviated. However, if the tumor further grows into surrounding tissues, it might compress important blood vessels and nerves, resulting in recurring pain with increasing severity.

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

Currently, the treatment technology for pituitary tumors is relatively mature. For early-stage pituitary microadenomas that are only a few millimeters in size, and where vision and visual fields are not yet affected, a definite diagnosis can be made. Under the surgical microscope, complete removal surgery is achievable, and it is possible to preserve the normal function of the pituitary gland. As surgical experience continues to increase, not only can tumors within the sella be removed, but even large adenomas or giant pituitary adenomas growing above the sella can be safely excised. Therefore, for patients with pituitary tumors, it is advisable to choose to visit a local hospital as early as possible and opt for a complete removal of the pituitary tumor through a transnasal transsphenoidal approach.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Can pituitary tumors heal on their own?

Under normal circumstances, pituitary tumors generally do not heal spontaneously. Pituitary tumors are benign tumors and although they grow slowly, they tend to continue growing. When they enlarge to a certain extent, they produce a series of symptoms and signs, such as headaches behind the eye sockets, the forehead, and both temporal sides. If the tumor breaks through the sellar diaphragm, it might also affect the optic nerve, leading to decreased vision and visual field defects. Moreover, it can severely erode the pituitary gland, causing symptoms and signs like decreased pituitary function, endocrine hormone disorders, and bringing significant suffering to the patient.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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What is a pituitary tumor?

Pituitary tumors refer to a type of benign tumor that occurs at the site of the pituitary fossa. Generally, they grow relatively slowly. In the early stages of the disease, there are usually no obvious symptoms or signs. Some patients may occasionally feel mild headaches or dizziness, which most can tolerate. As the size of the pituitary tumor gradually increases, it often affects the surrounding critical tissues, nerves, and organs, primarily impacting pituitary function, thereby leading to pituitary hypofunction. This affects the secretion of endocrine hormones in the body, causing abnormal secretion of endocrine hormones, and resulting in a series of symptoms and signs. For example, male patients may experience abnormalities in the secretion of male hormones, leading to difficulties with erection, while female patients are likely to experience menstrual disorders and irregular menstruation.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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How long does it take to recover after pituitary tumor surgery?

For patients with pituitary tumors, about six months to a year after undergoing surgery, as the endocrine hormones in the body gradually return to normal, the patient's original symptoms or signs gradually diminish or even disappear, and the quality of the body also gradually recovers. At this time, patients often recover well. For such patients, it is necessary to visit the local hospital regularly after surgery for follow-up appointments, to have a cranial MRI to help assess the effects of the pituitary tumor surgery recovery, and to have blood drawn to test the endocrine hormones in the body to see if they have returned to normal levels. If there are still abnormalities, it is advisable to take medication to regulate them.