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Pituitary Cancer : Deciding on Treatment

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Deciding On Treatment

Pituitary Tumor Treatment Introduction
Researchers are always finding new treatments for pituitary tumors and improving current treatments. Pituitary tumors are almost never fatal.
Source:StayWell
Date:November 23, 2004
Pituitary Tumor Surgery
Surgery is usually the main treatment for people with pituitary tumors. The most common surgery used to remove pituitary tumors is called trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy. In this surgery, the surgeon will make a small cut behind the upper lip and create a hole through one of the bones of the nasal passage in order to reach the pituitary gland. The gland is then removed. In this kind of surgery, no other part of the brain is touched and there is no scar that anyone can see. It is common for microadenomas and soft, larger tumors to be removed this way. If a tumor is very large, or if it has spread to nerves in the area or other parts of the brain, this surgery may not be possible.
Source:StayWell
Date:November 23, 2004
Pituitary Tumor Radiation Therapy
Radiation is often used to treat pituitary tumors that come back after surgery. It may also be used to treat pituitary tumors that cause symptoms that medication cannot relieve. Sometimes, if a tumor is very large, the surgeon will remove as much as safely possible (called "debulking" surgery), and then the rest of the tumor will be irradiated.
Source:StayWell
Date:November 23, 2004
Pituitary Tumor Medication
With some kinds of small pituitary tumors, it is possible to use medication to stop the tumor from growing. Sometimes, it is possible to avoid surgery altogether and only be treated with medication. Medications are used to treat pituitary adenomas that secrete prolactin. The medicines commonly used are bromocriptine (Parlodel), octreotide (Sandostatin) and cabergoline (Dostinex). Although the medicine cannot destroy the tumor completely, they can control its hormone production and often can make it smaller.
Source:StayWell
Date:November 23, 2004
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