Pituitary Tumors

Overview

Enlarge

Most pituitary tumors are benign (not cancerous). Malignant (cancerous) tumors of the pituitary gland are very rare. Although pituitary tumors can occur at any age, most are found in older persons.

Almost all pituitary tumors are adenomas which do not spread outside the skull and usually remain confined to the pituitary, or in tissues near the pituitary.

Patients have traveled to Mayo Clinic from all 50 U.S. states and from 39 countries for treatment of brain tumors. Mayo Clinic provides care for nearly 2,000 such patients each year, making it one of the largest brain tumor centers in the world.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing a pituitary tumor usually involves several steps. First, a physician takes a complete personal and family medical history to check for risk factors and symptoms. Read more about diagnosis of pituitary tumors.

Treatment Options

Treatments for pituitary tumors depend on the tumor's type, size, how far the tumor has spread into the brain, and the patient's age and overall health. Generally, three treatments are used either alone or in combination including surgery, radiation therapy and medications. Read more about treatment options for pituitary tumors.

• Treatment in Arizona
• Treatment in Florida
• Treatment in Minnesota
• Treatment of Children & Adolescents

About Pituitary Tumors

Although the growth and spread of pituitary tumors is not extensive, they can have a big impact on a patient's health. If the tumor becomes larger than an inch, it can push on and damage nearby parts of the brain. There is very little room for the tumors to grow in this part of the skull. The nerves leading to the eye pass by the pituitary gland and can be damaged by a tumor.

Some pituitary tumors can press on and damage the remaining pituitary tissue, causing a reduction of pituitary hormones, a potentially serious problem. Also, some tumors produce too much of one or more pituitary hormones, which can also cause serious problems.