What is the treatment for pituitary microadenoma?

The pituitary gland is a tissue located in the cerebellum. The pituitary gland mainly secretes growth factors to promote the continuous growth of the body. Therefore, for people, if the pituitary gland is healthy and the secretion of growth factors is stable, their height will grow regularly. However, the pituitary gland, like the brain, is also susceptible to diseases. For example, pituitary microadenoma is a common disease symptom that has a great impact on the patient's body. In severe cases, it can threaten the patient's life. Let’s take a look at how to treat pituitary microadenoma. I hope everyone can understand.

1. Surgical treatment

Surgery is the treatment of choice. It mainly includes craniotomy and transsphenoidal surgery. Selective transsphenoidal microadenoma resection can achieve endocrine remission in 95% of patients, and the function of the anterior pituitary can be restored to normal. Sometimes only normal or hyperplastic pituitary tissue is removed, but 2/3 of patients can achieve complete remission after surgery.

2. Radiation therapy

Radiotherapy can be chosen for patients with contraindications to surgery or patients with residual tumors after surgery. Radiotherapy is relatively effective for GH microadenomas, and 60%~90% of GH adenomas are sensitive to radiotherapy. Most patients achieve significant results in about 2 years, but up to 40% of patients suffer from hypopituitarism after radiotherapy. It is contraindicated in patients with visual field defects and intracranial hypertension. It has a certain effect on pituitary adenomas. It can control the development of tumors, sometimes shrink tumors, and improve visual field, but it cannot cure them fundamentally.

3. Drug treatment

Infertile women with pituitary prolactin-secreting microadenomas can generally be treated with oral dopamine agonists - cryptotidine. Literature reports that 70% of women can become pregnant after 2 months. After long-term treatment, the tumor size can be reduced and some patients can be cured. Young women who become pregnant after taking dopamine agonists may experience pituitary adenoma apoplexy or significant enlargement during pregnancy, requiring emergency surgery if necessary. In addition, bromocriptine can also relieve symptoms of growth hormone cell adenoma, but the dosage is large and the efficacy is poor.

Prevent infection, treat symptoms, and deal with complications accordingly if any. The main drugs for correcting cerebral edema and reducing intracranial pressure are 20% mannitol, furosemide, and dexamethasone, and even human albumin can be used. Pay attention to electrolyte and fluid balance, and replenish blood loss during surgery.