Pituitary Tumor Treatment

Pituitary Adenoma, Pituitary Carcinoma

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The pituitary gland is located in a delicate area near the brain and is involved in regulating many essential body functions. As a result, pituitary gland tumor treatment requires care from a variety of medical specialists. At Duke, a team works together to determine the most effective, customized treatment approach for you. We also coordinate your care to minimize the tumor’s impact and help you get back to enjoying daily life.

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About Pituitary Tumors

The pituitary gland is a pea-sized structure located at the base of your brain, behind your nose. It produces hormones and directs other glands in your body to produce hormones.

Tumors on the pituitary gland are common and may not cause problems. But if the tumor causes your body to produce too many or too few hormones, it can create an imbalance that may lead to a variety of symptoms and conditions. A pituitary tumor can also press on nearby nerves connected to your eyes, causing vision problems.

Most pituitary tumors are benign (called pituitary adenoma). Rarely, a pituitary tumor is cancerous (called pituitary carcinoma) and can spread beyond the pituitary gland.

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Duke Health offers locations throughout the Triangle. Find one near you.

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Treatments

Your care team will recommend a pituitary tumor treatment based on the size, location, and characteristics of your tumor, as well as other factors such as your overall health.

Medication

Your doctor may prescribe medicine to regulate hormones and to shrink the tumor. In many cases, this is the only treatment needed. If your tumor needs to be removed surgically or its growth halted through radiation treatment, you may need to take medications before or after those treatments to keep your hormones in balance.

Radiation Therapy

If your pituitary tumor extends to an area where surgery could be risky, our experts may recommend radiation therapy (high energy X-ray treatment). This may be given as a once-daily treatment for about five weeks or as stereotactic radiosurgery. This will be determined by your radiation oncologist, who considers multiple factors such as the size of the tumor and its exact location within the brain.

Pituitary Tumor Surgery

The goal of surgery is to remove the entire tumor safely while also preserving the function of the pituitary gland and nearby structures, such as the optic nerves. Often, neurosurgeons and sinus specialists can perform the surgery by placing a small tube called an endoscope through your nose to reach and remove it. Less often and for larger tumors, our surgeons offer keyhole craniotomies, in which the tumor is removed through openings in the skull about the size of a nickel. In rare cases, a pituitary tumor may require more extensive surgery. Regardless of the approach, our surgeons have extensive training and experience in the most advanced and minimally invasive techniques that help you heal faster and feel less pain.

Follow-Up Care

After your tumor has been effectively treated -- through medication, radiation, or surgery -- your care team will continue to monitor your condition with regular MRI scans and hormone tests. Pituitary tumors can sometimes return, although it is rare. If your tumor caused vision problems, your eye specialist will continue to monitor your vision.

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Tests

These are the basic tests our doctors rely on most often in diagnosing and recommending treatment for a pituitary tumor. Your doctor may order additional tests based on your particular symptoms and circumstances.

MRI

This gives doctors a detailed visual image of the pituitary area. You may be given a special dye -- through an injection into your vein or a pill that you swallow -- to increase the contrast of the image. This test usually lasts 30-60 minutes and is virtually painless.

Hormone Level Testing

Samples of your blood will be collected and tested to determine whether your pituitary tumor is causing a hormone imbalance and how this may be affecting your health. In some cases, your doctor may order urine or saliva tests to gather more information.

Eye Exam

An ophthalmologist or optometrist will test the clarity of your vision as well as look for problems such as double vision and peripheral vision loss that can be caused by a pituitary tumor pressing on an optic nerve.

Need a Second Opinion?

Our pituitary tumor experts will review your diagnostic scans performed elsewhere and contact you to discuss an effective treatment plan. Please call 919-681-9928, and our nurse navigator will help make arrangements for your second opinion.

Why Choose Duke

Advanced Specialists
Your care team will include specialists with advanced training in endocrinology, neurosurgery, and otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat). Depending on your needs, your team may also include experts from neuro-ophthalmology, radiation oncology, neuroradiology, and other specialties. Our experts meet regularly to review patients' scans and test results, and determine the best possible course of treatment.

Nurse Navigator
Your care will be coordinated by our nurse navigator, a single point of contact who will answer your questions and guide you through the treatment process. Whenever possible, you'll be scheduled for office visits, tests, and treatments on the same day. Our goal is to make the most of your time and to ensure your care team has the information they need to work together toward the best possible outcome for you. If you don’t live near Duke but choose to have surgery here, we can coordinate with your local doctors for follow-up care.

High-Volume Center
You'll be among others from around the region and across the country who travel to Duke for pituitary tumor care. Our high-volume center frequently sees -- and successfully treats -- some of the most challenging cases.

Best Hospital Endocrinology and Diabetes in NC

When it comes to your care, you want the very best. Duke University Hospital is proud of our team and the exceptional care they provide. They are why our diabetes and endocrinology program is nationally ranked, and the highest ranked program in North Carolina, according to U.S. News & World Report for 2021–2022.

Reviewed: 03/02/2020