How is pituitary tumor surgery performed?

Written by Li Pei

Neurosurgery

Updated on June 29, 2025

00:00

00:00

Currently, there are generally two surgical methods for pituitary tumors. One is the transnasal transsphenoidal endoscopic pituitary tumor resection. The other is the craniotomy microsurgery pituitary tumor resection. If the main body of the tumor is located within the sella or even within the sphenoid sinus, it is suitable for transnasal transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection. If the main body of the tumor is located above the sella, it is suitable for craniotomy microsurgery pituitary tumor resection. Of course, some adjustments should also be made according to the patient's age, physical condition, etc.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Gao Yi Shen

Neurosurgery

52sec

home-news-image

How long is the leave for pituitary tumor surgery?

The duration of leave needed after pituitary tumor surgery must be judged based on individual circumstances, as everyone's condition is different. Generally, if the tumor removal uses a minimally invasive method, entering through the nose, then under normal circumstances, if the surgery goes well without any complications or sequelae, the patient often only needs to take one to two weeks off, and can usually return to work or studies afterwards. However, in some cases where open craniotomy is used for the tumor removal and the surgery encounters problems, postoperative complications or sequelae may occur, and the leave required can be around one to two months. If the condition is more critical, the leave period may be extended even further. Therefore, the decision must be based on the specific condition at the time, with most cases likely requiring around one month off.

home-news-image

Written by Li Pei

Neurosurgery

40sec

home-news-image

How is pituitary tumor surgery performed?

Currently, there are generally two surgical methods for pituitary tumors. One is the transnasal transsphenoidal endoscopic pituitary tumor resection. The other is the craniotomy microsurgery pituitary tumor resection. If the main body of the tumor is located within the sella or even within the sphenoid sinus, it is suitable for transnasal transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection. If the main body of the tumor is located above the sella, it is suitable for craniotomy microsurgery pituitary tumor resection. Of course, some adjustments should also be made according to the patient's age, physical condition, etc.

home-news-image

Written by Chen Yu Fei

Neurosurgery

45sec

home-news-image

What should I do about a pituitary tumor?

When a pituitary tumor occurs, we generally recommend surgery as the treatment method. Of course, specific analysis should be done based on the individual circumstances of the patient before surgery. In cases where the tumor is small and there are no obvious clinical symptoms—discovered incidentally during other related examinations—such patients can temporarily take medication and should be closely monitored with regular follow-ups to observe any changes in their condition. However, for patients who have clear clinical symptoms and display endocrine hormone imbalances, such as men experiencing significant erectile dysfunction and women having menstrual disorders, surgery is generally recommended as the treatment method.

home-news-image

Written by Chen Yu Fei

Neurosurgery

50sec

home-news-image

How long does it take to recover after pituitary tumor surgery?

For patients with pituitary tumors, about six months to a year after undergoing surgery, as the endocrine hormones in the body gradually return to normal, the patient's original symptoms or signs gradually diminish or even disappear, and the quality of the body also gradually recovers. At this time, patients often recover well. For such patients, it is necessary to visit the local hospital regularly after surgery for follow-up appointments, to have a cranial MRI to help assess the effects of the pituitary tumor surgery recovery, and to have blood drawn to test the endocrine hormones in the body to see if they have returned to normal levels. If there are still abnormalities, it is advisable to take medication to regulate them.

home-news-image

Written by Chen Yu Fei

Neurosurgery

46sec

home-news-image

Is a 2cm pituitary tumor big?

In the case of pituitary tumors, if the size reaches two centimeters, it is relatively large. Under normal circumstances, pituitary tumors can be classified into several types based on their size: microadenomas are generally smaller than one centimeter, macroadenomas are larger than 1.0 centimeter, and giant adenomas are larger than 3.0 centimeters. Usually, a two-centimeter pituitary tumor is already considered a macroadenoma. Normally, such large pituitary tumors often compress the surrounding pituitary tissue, causing hypofunction of the pituitary tissue and significant hormonal disturbances, which can lead to a range of uncomfortable symptoms and signs in patients.