The pituitary gland lies behind the nose deep within the brain and secretes hormones that regulate other hormone-producing glands such as the testes, adrenals, breasts, ovaries, thyroid and kidneys. Pituitary tumors can occur in both males and females and treatment method depends upon tumor characteristics such as benign, malignant or invasive adenoma, whereby a benign tumor spreads. Pituitary tumors can also be functioning (a hormone-producing tumor) or non-functioning (non-hormone producing tumor).
Observation
Sixty to seventy percent of non-functioning tumors (non-hormone-producing tumors) do not require treatment, according to the Mayo Clinic.Therefore, physicians will monitor the patient for changes in pituitary tumor size or the presentation of symptoms such as headache, lethargy, nausea, vomiting and problems with vision or the sense of smell.
Medication
Medication can lessen hormone secretion from functioning tumors (hormone-producing tumors) or potentially decrease tumor size. Prolactin-secreting tumors, the most common tumor type in female patients, respond effectively to the medications bromocriptine or cabergoline. Growth-hormone secreting tumors can be treated with somatostatin to decrease tumor size or pegvisomant to block the effect of growth hormone.
Surgery
Based upon the characteristics of the tumor--size, location and type--the most common treatment method, surgery, involves one of two methods. Transsphenoidal surgery involves an incision at the top of the front teeth and through the sphenoid bone to extract the tumor through the nasal cavity (a procedure reported as 80% effective). If tumor size prevents nasal extraction, the second surgical method removes the tumor through an incision on the top of the head and through the skull.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses either a high-energy ray or low-dose radiation to destroy cancerous and non-cancerous pituitary tumors. If tumor size or location prevents tumor extraction surgically, radiation therapy can provide another option to destroy a tumor or decrease the size; however, radiation therapy cannot treat tumors located close to sensitive structures such as nerves. Radiation therapy types include external and internal radiation therapy and stereotactic radiation. Indicated primarily to treat adrenocorticotropic-producing and growth-hormone producing tumors, radiation therapy treats prolactin-producing tumors less effectively.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, recommended for cancerous and non-cancerous tumors that have spread, can be used to lessen symptoms from pituitary tumors. Chemotherapy stops tumor cell growth or cellular division and decreases excessive hormone production or blocks the effect of the over abundant hormone, according to the National Cancer Institute.
