Currently, pituitary adenomas are classified into prolactin adenoma (PRL tumor), growth hormone adenoma (GH tumor), adrenocorticotropin adenoma (ACTH tumor), mixed adenoma, non-functional adenoma and malignant pituitary tumor.
If the tumor is less than 1cm in diameter and the growth is limited to the saddle, it is called microadenoma. The main manifestations of PRL adenoma in women are amenorrhea, lactation and infertility. The main manifestations of GH adenoma are gigantism if it develops before puberty, acromegaly if it develops after puberty, and cortisolism if it develops after puberty, full-moon face, buffalo back, purple lines on abdominal wall and thighs, obesity, hypertension and hypogonadism.
At present, pituitary tumors are treated with medication, r-knife treatment, and surgery. Except for larger invasive pituitary tumors, tumors protruding to the posterior saddle, bilateral cavernous sinus areas, and the base of the three ventricles that take craniotomy, surgery is generally chosen as microscopic or endoscopic minimally invasive transnasal butterfly surgery.