I. What is pituitary adenoma?
Pituitary adenoma, one of the common intracranial tumors, is a benign tumor growing from the anterior pituitary gland. Pituitary adenoma usually occurs in young adulthood and often affects the patient’s growth and development, reproductive function, learning and working ability.
Symptoms of pituitary tumor Generally speaking, when there are unexplained headaches and changes in visual field, for example, a person who is thought to be normal has headaches, vision loss or frequent collisions during driving or walking, it is important to pay attention to this time, why is this? Because the tumor in the saddle area compressing the visual intersection will cause the patient’s vision to decrease and the visual field to be damaged, often he can only see the frontal things but not the side things, so he will collide with someone passing by.
In addition, if a prepubescent child does not grow up and has delayed development of secondary sexual characteristics, for example, a girl’s breast does not develop, does not have menstruation, a boy’s external genitalia does not grow, does not grow a beard, does not have seminal emission, does not change his voice, parents should pay attention to whether the child has pituitary gland problems.
In addition, if a woman of childbearing age has normal menstruation, but her menstrual cycle suddenly becomes longer, extending for two or three months or no longer, in addition to the possible gynecological problems, we should also think about whether it is a pituitary adenoma, which often comes with irregular menstruation, and this irregular menstruation is often prolonged, so we must pay attention to this time. In addition to the reproductive system, the pituitary gland should also be checked for problems, which are often delayed in the male or urology department. Especially if such patients are combined with other symptoms such as fear of cold, hair loss, poor stool, poor appetite, and polyuria, the possibility of pituitary tumor should be considered.
Treatment of pituitary tumor 1.Surgery: Surgery is the first choice for pituitary adenoma treatment (applicable to most cases of pituitary adenoma), and those with pituitary stroke (referring to symptomatic pituitary hemorrhage or infarction) or hydrocephalus should undergo emergency surgery. There are usually two types of surgery: craniotomy and transnasal-paranasal approach for pituitary adenoma resection. Transnasal-pterygoid sinus approach pituitary adenoma resection has been widely adopted internationally, and most patients are suitable for this procedure, which has the advantages of less trauma and better outcome. Note that not all pituitary adenomas need to be operated, some can be treated with medication; some do not necessarily need to be treated, but can be observed for a long time, and decisions need to be made under the consultation and guidance of an experienced doctor.
2.Stereotactic radiosurgery treatment: γ-knife or X-knife treatment can be considered for those without intracranial pressure increase sign and tumor diameter <2cm. However, such treatment should not be taken as the first choice after all. It is only suitable for those with particularly poor physical condition, recurrence even after multiple operations, postoperative residual or those who resolutely do not accept the surgery, and must be chosen with caution for the reason that there are more disadvantages. 3.Pharmacological treatment: Those with hypopituitarism can be given drug replacement therapy, and adenomas with secretory function can use drugs that inhibit excessive secretion of pituitary hormones as appropriate. Some of the adenomas with secretory function can be treated with drugs under the long-term guidance of doctors, such as most of the prolactin adenomas can be treated with long-term oral bromocriptine, and most of them can get good results.