Pituitary tumors are located in the pituitary gland.

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 13, 2024
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Pituitary tumors are benign tumors that grow slowly, mostly within the pituitary fossa. Due to their proximity to the pituitary gland, small pituitary tumors generally do not show obvious symptoms. However, as the tumor size increases, it can easily compress the pituitary gland, affecting its function, resulting in pituitary dysfunction and causing an endocrine hormone disorder. This leads to a variety of symptoms and signs in patients. A cranial CT or MRI, including an enhanced MRI scan of the pituitary, can reveal a high-density shadow in the pituitary fossa, indicating the presence of an intracranial mass.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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How long should one rest after pituitary tumor surgery?

For patients who have undergone pituitary tumor surgery, it is recommended that they rest for at least about six months. During this initial post-operative period, patients should be placed in an intensive care unit to monitor vital signs, with a focus on consciousness, pupils, awareness, and limb activity, including blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood oxygen saturation. Once the patient's condition stabilizes, they can be transferred to a regular ward for continued treatment. Patients should not engage in early ambulation to prevent complications such as cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. During the recovery period, rest should be prioritized, and strenuous physical activity should be avoided. At the same time, appropriate nutritional support should be strengthened. Generally, with about six months of rest, the body will gradually recover.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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How long does pituitary tumor surgery take?

Generally, for patients with pituitary tumors, it is usually recommended to choose endonasal transsphenoidal minimally invasive surgery to completely remove the pituitary tumor. If no unexpected circumstances occur during the surgery, the process typically takes about two hours, though this can vary depending on the size of the tumor and how smoothly the surgery proceeds. Patients are given general anesthesia before the surgery, which involves inducing anesthesia and ensuring it is administered successfully. After the surgery, patients are moved to a recovery room to recuperate for a period of time. Once the patient gradually regains consciousness, the tracheal tube is removed, and they are returned to their hospital room. Therefore, the total time involved is approximately three to four hours.

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How many days of hospitalization for pituitary tumor surgery?

For patients with pituitary tumors, it normally takes about one to two weeks to undergo surgery and be hospitalized. After surgery, it is appropriate for patients to rest in bed and refrain from getting up too early, mainly to monitor for any occurrence of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. Premature activity might lead to cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea or even trigger intracranial infections. Additionally, after surgery, it is important to perform blood tests to check the levels of endocrine hormones in the body, primarily to assess whether important electrolyte and hormone levels are normal. If there are abnormalities, adjustments should be made promptly, and discharge can be considered once the patient's condition is stable.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Is pituitary tumor surgery dangerous?

For patients with pituitary tumors, undergoing pituitary tumor surgery carries certain risks. The main risks are due to the important blood vessels, nerves, and various crucial structures around the pituitary tumor. Careless maneuvers during the surgery may damage these important organs or affect the surrounding crucial blood vessels, leading to potentially fatal massive bleeding. Additionally, some common surgical risks may also exist, such as anesthesia accidents, postoperative intracranial infections, cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, and other conditions. Therefore, for pituitary tumor patients, it is necessary to prepare thoroughly for the surgery and make a comprehensive assessment of the patient's overall condition before the procedure.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
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How is a pituitary tumor caused?

At present, there is no definitive conclusion on how pituitary tumors are formed and further developed. Clinically, it is mostly believed to be the result of a combination of congenital genetic factors and adverse environmental factors acquired later in life. For patients with pituitary tumors, they are often seen in some special familial genetic diseases. In the family medical history, a tendency for a higher accumulation of family members can be observed. Additionally, some pituitary tumor patients are also found in clear familial genetic endocrine diseases. Moreover, patients who are overworked, fatigued, under stress, and experience endocrine hormone disorders are also affected. Exposure to radioactive contamination and chemical carcinogens can also potentially lead to pituitary tumors.