Not all pituitary adenoma requires any treatment, but those that need treatment depends on the type, size of the tumor, and how far it spread into the brain.
Treatment includes a group of medical experts, possibly involving a neuro surgeon, endocrinologist, and a radiation oncologist. Doctors usually use medications, radiation therapy, and surgery, either alone or in combination, to treat a pituitary adenoma and get back the production of hormones to normal levels.
Surgery
This process includes the removal of the pituitary adenoma this can be done in the case where the tumor is pressing the optic nerves or if the tumor is overproducing certain hormones. There are two main techniques for surgical removal of a pituitary adenoma include:
Endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal approach- In this procedure your doctor usually removes the tumor through your nose and sinuses without an external incision, and it doesn’t impact other parts of the brain and leaves no visible scar. But for large tumors, this procedure may be difficult especially if a tumor has invaded nearby nerves and brain tissues.
Transcranial approach (craniotomy): In this procedure, the tumor is removed from the upper part of the skull via an incision in the scalp. Through this procedure, it is easy to remove large tumors.
Radiation therapy:
Radiation therapy includes the removal of tumors by using high energy sources of radiation. In case a tumor persists or return after the surgery and cause symptoms that medications don’t relieve, radiation therapy can be useful. If can be done alone or after the surgery.
Radiation therapy methods include:
- Stereotactic radiosurgery
- External beam radiation
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
- Proton beam therapy
Medications
Medications may help to block excess hormone secretion and sometimes shrinks the certain type of tumors.