How Are Pituitary Tumors Treated?

External Beam Radiation

External beam radiation seems to be a common type of radiation therapy used on cancerous tumors. Thus, doctors may reserve it for cancerous pituitary tumors. The doses of radiation in this treatment should shrink the tumor. They may also destroy cancer cells at the same time. This form of radiation appears to be done with a linear accelerator. This X-ray machine should deliver the doses at any angle. They may also help shape the beams to the patient's tumor.

This machine does not seem to touch the patient at any point. It should simply move around their body. Focused radiation should provide more targeted treatment, which can help with pituitary tumors that have not spread. The focused beams appear to reduce damage to surrounding healthy tissue and other organs. This may be especially good for pituitary tumors, since the brain is close.