What is the goal for Medical Treatment in Pituitary Tumors?
Any medical therapy for a pituitary tumor should reduce hormone overproduction by the tumor, and, ideally, decrease the size of the pituitary tumor so that any visual abnormality is corrected. Reduction in tumor size should improve or relieve headache associated with the tumor. Since not all pituitary tumors produce an excessive amount of a hormone or hormones, the only measure of successful medical therapy for the non hormone producing tumor is the effect on tumor size and clinical symptoms (visual problems, headache). The answer to this question about pituitary tumors was developed by Mary Lee Vance, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Neurosurgery at the University of Virginia. Dr. Vance is an endocrinologist specializing in the treatment of pituitary diseases.
