CLINICAL PICTURE AND CURRENT MANAGEMENT OF PITUITARY TUMORS: A REVIEW

Abstract

The pituitary is a pea-sized complex gland located below the hypothalamus at the base of skull in the sella turcica, is composed of three types of cells. Pituitary being the centre of all the stimulating hormones of various organs, its overgrowth leads to hormone excess syndromes, like acromegaly, Cushing disease, central hypothyroidism, and hyperprolactinemia etc. so studies involving pituitary tumors have mainly focused on hormone production. Pituitary Adenoma is the most common (~85%) tumor in the sellar-suprasellar region. Their prevalence is growing which has risen over the last 20 years probably due to improved imaging techniques and treatment outcomes. Due to the tumors growth in size Compression of adjacent anatomical structures especially optic nerves in close vicinity can lead to focal neurologic deficits such as diplopia, visual field defects and loss of visual acuity typically bitemporal hemianopsia. The surgical procedure of choice is a trans-sphenoidal micro surgically or endoscopically performed by a neurosurgeon leaving transcranial approach for large and invasive pituitary neoplasm with sellar remnants. Even in the case of recurrent tumor or progression of residual tumor tissue after surgery, a second operation and/or radiotherapy should be considered.