What are the treatments for pituitary tumors? Is the recurrence rate of pituitary tumors high after surgery?

Pituitary tumors are common benign tumors with an incidence of 1/100,000, accounting for 10% of intracranial tumors, ranking third. They are more common in young and middle-aged people. Currently, the treatments for pituitary tumors include surgery, drugs, and radiotherapy.

(1) Surgery: The surgical effect rate of pituitary adenoma is 60-90%, but the recurrence rate is relatively high. Foreign data show that the recurrence rate is 7%-35%. The recurrence rate of simple resection can reach 50%. The recurrence is related to the following factors:

① The surgical resection is not complete, and the tumor tissue remains.

② The tumor grows aggressively, involving the dura mater, cavernous sinus or bone tissue.

③Multiple pituitary microadenomas.

④ Pituitary cell hyperplasia.

(2) Drug treatment: such as bromocriptine for the treatment of prolactin (PRL) adenoma, GH adenoma, ACTH adenoma, somatostatin or estrogen for the treatment of growth hormone (GH) adenoma, cyproheptadine, metyrapone for the treatment of ACTH adenoma, non-functional adenoma and hypopituitarism, and various hormone replacement therapies.

(3) Radiotherapy: It is used for pituitary adenomas and pituitary cancers that are not completely treated with surgery or may recur. X-knife and gamma knife are used for tumors smaller than 3 cm.