Most pituitary tumors or adenomas are benign and present no immediate risk to the patient. However, in certain cases, even benign adenomas can increase in size and put pressure on delicate regions of the brain, causing serious side effects and potentially damaging vital areas of the brain and nervous system.
1) Understanding the Symptoms
The pressure of the tumor on the brain can produce symptoms that typically signal to the patient that something is wrong, prompting them to seek medical treatment. These pituitary symptoms include the following:
• Severe or chronic headaches
• Unexplained fatigue over an extended period of time
• Unusual visual effects
• Partial or total loss of vision
• Stomach and digestive upsets, including nausea and constipation
• Unusual physical growth patterns
• Various sexual dysfunctions
2) Deciphering the Diagnoses
For some patients, an unrelated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may be the first indication of an unusual growth or adenoma on the pituitary gland. In most cases, these tumors require no immediate treatment. It is estimated that up to one in four MRI scans reveal abnormalities and growths on the pituitary gland; of these, between sixty and seventy percent will never increase in size and require no further medical attention.
Other methods of diagnosing pituitary tumors include the following:
• Measuring hormones in the blood to detect abnormally high or low concentration
• Predictive diagnosis based on family history and past incidence of pituitary adenoma
• Blood sampling via the petrosal sinus blood vessels
• Biopsies and tissue samples of suspected tumors
3) Trusting the Treatments
Regardless of the method of diagnosis, most pituitary adenomas are treated through medication, radiotherapy, surgery or a combination of these methods. Depending on the type of adenoma, medications can sometimes produce significant reductions in the size and activity of the tumor. Radiotherapy can cause damage to surrounding tissue, and it is typically used only in conjunction with other therapeutic methods. In a large number of cases, however, surgical methods of pituitary tumor removal offer better prognoses for patients.
Recent advances in minimally invasive endoscopic surgical methods have allowed pituitary tumor patients to enjoy reduced recovery times and improved outcomes. Because these surgical methods typically require only a minor incision or, in some cases, no incision at all, they cause far less damage to the brain and surrounding tissue, while allowing surgeons to excise much more of the tumor than previous open-brain surgical techniques.
By understanding the symptoms, deciphering the diagnosis, and trusting in the treatment options available, healing quickly from a pituitary tumor is easier than ever before.