Management of Pituitary Adenomas

Abstract

Summary: We present an overview of the management of pituitary adenomas, with discussions of microanatomy, of diagnostic studies of general neuroendocrine function, and of radiologic evaluation. We discuss the diagnosis of pituitary adenoma and its treatment with sections on null cell, prolactin (PRL)- secreting, growth hormone (GH)-secreting, and corticotropin-secreting adenomas and on other secreting tumors. For surgical management, we present an historical background and then focus on the transsphenoidal and transcranial approaches. The use of primary and postoperative radiotherapy (RT) is examined.