1.What is pituitary tumor?
Pituitary tumors, as the name suggests, originate from the pituitary gland, which is the endocrine center of the human body. If we look at the human head as a sphere, the pituitary gland is basically located in the center of this sphere. In addition to its deep location, the site of the pituitary gland is also very important. For those who have not studied medicine, it may be difficult to understand the complex anatomy of the local area.
2.Why do pituitary tumors occur in people? What are the causes of pituitary tumors?
At present, there are two main views, one is that abnormal proliferation of pituitary cells is caused by abnormal function of hypothalamus, the other is that abnormal proliferation of pituitary cells is caused by abnormality of pituitary cells themselves, and clinically pituitary tumors are usually produced by a single clone. It should be noted that the exact cause of pituitary tumors is complex and not clear at present, and further research is needed to confirm it. We have collected a large number of pituitary tumor specimens and hope to clarify the specific mechanism of pituitary tumor occurrence in future studies, so as to propose a good strategy for pituitary tumor prevention.
3.Is pituitary tumor malignant?
The vast majority of pituitary tumors are benign. There are two types of pituitary tumors, invasive and non-invasive, and invasive pituitary adenomas are also benign, but because they invade the surrounding normal structures, they are difficult to be completely removed surgically and are prone to recurrence. It is generally believed that 70% of bleeding pituitary tumors are invasive pituitary tumors. A very small number of pituitary tumors are malignant.
4.What is the incidence of pituitary tumor? What are the symptoms?
The incidence of pituitary tumor is not high, accounting for one tenth of all brain tumors, which is the statistics of the United States. The symptoms mainly include local occupational symptoms (such as headache, visual impairment) and symptoms of hormonal overproduction (such as amenorrhea and lactation, acromegaly, centripetal obesity, etc.).
5.How long can patients with pituitary tumor survive?
Benign tumor, generally does not affect life.
6.How should I diagnose a pituitary tumor if I have the corresponding symptoms and suspect it?
We have a collaborative team for pituitary tumors. You can visit the endocrinology department or the neurosurgery clinic for MRI and hormone tests.
7.How should pituitary tumors be best treated?
Except for prolactinoma, which can be controlled by drugs such as bromocriptine, other types of pituitary tumors are best treated by surgery.
8.What are the advantages of neuroendoscopic therapy compared with traditional microscopic surgery?
Although pituitary tumors originate from the pituitary gland and are deep and complex, fortunately there is a channel in the human head (nasal cavity) to reach the pituitary gland more directly. Another fortunate condition is that most pituitary adenomas are soft (can be removed by suction), so even through a narrow channel, total resection can often be achieved. However, for more rigid pituitary tumors, or pituitary tumors that grow upward or to the sides, it is often necessary to combine other surgical procedures, or to combine other treatments (e.g., radiation therapy).
However, one of the more obvious disadvantages of microscopic pituitary tumor resection is the limited visualization of local structures. With the development of technology, neuroendoscopic techniques have shown increasing superiority in the treatment of pituitary tumors. The main advantage of these techniques is that they can significantly expand the exposure of some of the subtle structures of the pituitary gland, because they can be observed close to the pituitary gland, thus allowing the extent of tumor removal and the relationship between the tumor and the surrounding structures, especially the important structures such as the internal carotid artery. Thus, the tumor can be removed to the maximum extent and damage to important structures can be minimized. Neuroendoscopy is in a sense an extension of the microscope and an extension of the surgeon’s field of vision, so it can significantly reduce the damage to the normal structures of the nasal cavity during transnasal surgery, greatly shortening the recovery time and making the surgery safer. However, neuroendoscopic surgery requires a deep understanding of local anatomy (especially endoscopic anatomy) and systematic training in neuroendoscopy to master neuroendoscopic surgical techniques. In our experience, the majority of pituitary tumors can be removed by minimally invasive single-nostril surgery, with minimal damage to the normal structures of the nasal cavity. The corresponding article has been published in the European Journal of Neurosurgery (ActaNeurochurgica,2013Sep;155(9):1601-9).
9. What other diseases can neuroendoscopic surgery be used for?
Chordoma, craniopharyngioma, optic canal decompression, cerebrospinal fluid leak, etc.
10.Can pituitary tumors be prevented and diagnosed early?
At present, it is not possible to prevent pituitary tumors, but it is important to pay attention to those who have similar diseases in their families.
11.What diseases should be differentiated from?
Pituitary hyperplasia, pituitary abscess, etc.