A pituitary tumor refers to a small and typically non-cancerous growth that involves the pituitary gland (located in the brain and needed to make hormones). A pituitary tumor may produce excessive or decreased amounts of hormones, depending on the tumor, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some symptoms of this tumor include headache, nausea, vomiting, seizures, low blood pressure, menstrual irregularities or a coarsened face. Fortunately, pituitary treatments are available to manage these symptoms.
Medications
Bromocriptine and octreotide are medications that reduce the size of the pituitary tumor, says the Mayo Clinic. They can also prevent it from secreting excess hormones. Specifically, bromocriptine belongs to a class of drugs called dopamine receptor agonists. It decreases the amount of growth hormone in the body. Some of its typical side effects include nausea, vomiting, heartburn, a loss of appetite, depression and drowsiness. Some of its more serious effects include seizures, chest pain, slow speech, hallucinations and confusion. Tell a doctor when bromocriptine causes these effects. Its dosage may need to be altered. Bromocriptine is available as a capsule or tablet taken once each day with food.
Octreotide is a medication specifically used to reduce growth hormone, insulin and glucagon in the body. Insulin and glucagon are hormones responsible for regulating the blood sugar levels, says Drugs.com. Octreotide's common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and constipation. Some of octreotide's serious side effects include stomach pain, an irregular or slow heartbeat and high or low blood sugar. Octreotide is available as an injection and should be taken as directed.
Surgery
The National Cancer Institute says that two types of surgeries are available to treat pituitary tumors: transphenoidal surgery and craniotomy. Transphenoidal surgery, also known as an endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal hypophysectomy, is a type of procedure in which surgically instruments are passed through the nose and through the sphenoidal sinus (an air space located near the nose). The pituitary tumor can then be removed through this method. An advantage of transphenoidal surgery is that it's non-invasive. No cuts are made and no scars form after surgery, says the Mayo Clinic.
A craniotomy, also called a transcranial hypophysectomy, involves taking out a part of the skull to reach the pituitary tumor. This procedure is invasive and is usually reserved for larger pituitary tumors that cannot be taken out through the nose.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation refers to using high-energy X-ray energy to eliminate the pituitary tumor, says the Mayo Clinic. Two types of radiation are used: external beam radiation and gamma-knife radiosurgery. External beam radiation refers to receiving scheduled radiation treatment approximately five times a week for four to six weeks. A machine will emit radiation and focus it onto the area of the pituitary tumor. Unfortunately, the Mayo Clinic says that it may take greater than a year for this treatment to be effective and it call also destroy surrounding brain and nerve tissue.
Gamma-knife radiosurgery is a procedure in which radiation is directly focused onto the pituitary gland. Interestingly, the radiation energy matches the tumor in size and shape. An advantage of this procedure is that the radiation doesn't affect any other brain or nerve tissues outside of the pituitary tumor.
Observation
The Mayo Clinic says that it is sometimes appropriate to just monitor the pituitary tumor, especially in the elderly and people with chronic illnesses. Regularly scheduled appointments will be made to assess whether medications, radiation or surgery would be beneficial.
