Pituitary Tumor Treatment by Type

One of the most important factors affecting treatment of a pituitary tumor is the type of tumor the person has. Treatment options for pituitary tumors may include surgery (usually a transsphenoidal surgery or craniotomy is performed), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and the use of certain medications designed to prevent the tumor stop producing hormones. The following eMedTV article breaks down options for pituitary tumor treatment by type of tumor.

Pituitary Tumor Treatment by Type: An Introduction

Different types of pituitary tumor treatment options are available for people. Pituitary tumor treatment options vary based on:
 
In general, pituitary tumor treatment can include:
 
  • Surgery (removing the tumor in an operation)
  • Radiation therapy (using high-dose x-rays to kill tumor cells)
  • Drug therapy
  • Chemotherapy.
     

Treatment for Prolactin-Producing Pituitary Tumors

Treatment options for a prolactin-producing pituitary tumor include:
 
  • Drug therapy to stop the tumor from making prolactin
  • Surgery to remove the tumor (transsphenoidal surgery or craniotomy) when the tumor does not respond to drug therapy or when the patient cannot take the drugs
  • Radiation therapy.
     
(Click Prolactinoma Treatment for more information on treating these prolactin-producing pituitary tumors.)
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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