How Are Pituitary Tumors Treated?

A pituitary tumor seems to be an abnormal tissue mass in the pituitary gland. It may affect how well this gland regulates hormones. Thus, the gland may produce too many hormones or not enough. Thankfully, it appears that pituitary tumors are not often cancerous. They may then be called adenomas and stay inside or around the pituitary gland.

Patients seem to have a few pituitary tumor treatments available to them. Many doctors may want to try medications for pituitary tumors first. Some patients may need surgery for pituitary tumors. Any natural remedies for pituitary tumors may only act as supports to traditional options. One example of such a remedy appears to be acupuncture for pituitary tumors. However, the best treatment for pituitary tumors may vary. Thus, patients may wish to understand all treatments and discuss each with their doctor.

Craniotomy

Patients with pituitary tumors may undergo a craniotomy to remove the tumor. This seems to be a fairly common surgery. However, it appears that only skilled neurosurgeons can perform them. Individuals seem to receive general anesthesia when they need this procedure. The surgeon may start by shaving a part of the patient's scalp. This can create the room they need to remove a piece of the patient's skull. They may drill a hole and remove a flap of bone. Ideally, this should expose the pituitary gland so that they have a visual of the tumor. At this point, surgeons may attempt to remove the entire tumor. However, to avoid causing brain damage, they may only be able to remove part of it. Surgeons should repair or replace the piece of the skull that they remove. They may do so with screws, wires, or plates.

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Stereotactic Radiosurgery

It seems that medication may be preferred for pituitary tumors. However, sometimes this may not control the tumor enough. Some patients may have a pituitary tumor that is likely to grow as well. If this is the case, doctors may recommend stereotactic radiosurgery. Patients may need it for tumors that cannot be removed with surgery or for recurring tumors. This form of radiation does not appear to need any invasive surgery. In addition, it may need fewer doses of radiation to be effective than the traditional form. Patients may get one to five doses for a pituitary tumor. They may receive these doses through a linear accelerator or gamma knife.

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