Pituitary tumor examination items

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 21, 2024
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For patients with pituitary tumors, it is first recommended to perform a cranial CT or MRI examination, and if necessary, a cranial MRI with contrast and a pituitary MRI with contrast can be done to help determine the specific location, size, and relationship of the pituitary tumor with surrounding important blood vessels and nerves. Additionally, blood tests are needed to examine the levels of endocrine hormones in the body, including cortisol, growth hormone, prolactin, thyroid hormones, and other related hormone levels. Furthermore, further examinations of the patient's cardiopulmonary function, such as electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and chest CT scans, are also required.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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What is a pituitary tumor?

Pituitary tumors refer to a type of benign tumor that occurs at the site of the pituitary fossa. Generally, they grow relatively slowly. In the early stages of the disease, there are usually no obvious symptoms or signs. Some patients may occasionally feel mild headaches or dizziness, which most can tolerate. As the size of the pituitary tumor gradually increases, it often affects the surrounding critical tissues, nerves, and organs, primarily impacting pituitary function, thereby leading to pituitary hypofunction. This affects the secretion of endocrine hormones in the body, causing abnormal secretion of endocrine hormones, and resulting in a series of symptoms and signs. For example, male patients may experience abnormalities in the secretion of male hormones, leading to difficulties with erection, while female patients are likely to experience menstrual disorders and irregular menstruation.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Pituitary tumors are located in the pituitary gland.

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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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
Neurosurgery
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Is a pituitary tumor easy to treat?

Our current understanding of pituitary tumors is quite deep, and we have accumulated rich treatment experience in the pathogenesis, disease progression, and treatment of pituitary tumors. Therefore, it is recommended to use surgical methods for pituitary tumor patients, especially those with obvious symptoms. Clinically, it is generally recommended to choose the transnasal-transsphenoidal approach for a complete resection of the pituitary tumor. For most patients, this can achieve good therapeutic effects. Moreover, with the continuous advancement of diagnostic techniques, early detection and treatment of small early pituitary microadenomas through complete surgical resection can also achieve good therapeutic outcomes.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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How to treat pituitary tumors?

Currently, the treatment of pituitary tumors can generally be conducted through various methods such as surgery, medication, and radiation therapy. The specific choice of treatment for a patient depends on the patient's individual circumstances, including factors such as gender, age, the current size of the pituitary tumor, whether there is damage to other vital organs, and the patient's overall condition. For most symptomatic patients, surgery is usually recommended. Clinically, it is generally recommended to choose transnasal transsphenoidal surgery for complete removal, which often achieves very good therapeutic effects. However, for some pituitary tumors located in special positions where complete surgical removal is not achievable, radiation therapy or Gamma Knife surgery can be used in conjunction.