What methods can be used to diagnose pituitary tumors

Although our living standards have improved a lot now, there are many more diseases than before, which is really unacceptable to us. Many people are troubled by pituitary tumors, but how to diagnose pituitary tumors? Today I will take you to understand what methods can be used to diagnose pituitary tumors.

Imaging examination:

(1) Plain skull X-ray: This is a relatively primitive diagnostic method. It determines the presence of tumors and makes differential diagnosis based on changes in the sella turcica bone and calcification in the sella turcica.

(2) CT scan: It is only of diagnostic value for large pituitary tumors. Micro pituitary tumors are easily missed and cannot be used as the main tool for diagnosing pituitary tumors.

(3) MRI examination: It is the most important tool for diagnosing pituitary tumors. It can clearly show the size, shape, location, and relationship of the tumor with the surrounding tissues. Even tumors with a diameter of 2-3 mm can be displayed. However, the signals of some tumors are similar to those of the surrounding normal pituitary tissues. The two are difficult to distinguish, and a combination of clinical manifestations and endocrine examinations is required for diagnosis.

Endocrine examination:

Since most pituitary tumors have the function of secreting hormones, when clinical manifestations are not obvious and imaging cannot indicate the presence of a tumor, the hormones of the pituitary tumor have already changed. Some pituitary tumor cases can be diagnosed simply by endocrine testing.

Clinical manifestations and diagnosis:

The patient's discomfort symptoms and physical changes after illness are the most basic information for diagnosis. Some subtle manifestations may serve as the basis for important diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

Based on the diagnosis, we understand how to treat:

1. Surgical treatment: mainly includes craniotomy and transsphenoidal surgery.

2. Radiotherapy: Conventional radiotherapy has a certain effect on pituitary adenoma. It can only control the development of the tumor, sometimes shrink the tumor, and improve the visual field, but it cannot cure it fundamentally; only head gamma knife treatment can cure pituitary tumors. Gamma knife treatment of pituitary adenoma has a definite effect, less pain, and mild reaction. The tumor will gradually shrink six months after treatment, and abnormal hormone changes will gradually return to normal. Gamma knife is non-invasive and is the preferred treatment for smaller tumors.

3. Drug treatment: Bromocriptine is a semi-synthetic ergotamine alkaloid that can stimulate the dopamine receptors of pituitary cells to reduce the effect of prolactin in the blood. Taking bromocriptine can shrink prolactin adenoma, restore menstruation and ovulation, and inhibit pathological galactorrhea, but bromocriptine cannot fundamentally cure prolactin adenoma. After stopping the drug, it can continue to grow and symptoms will reappear. In addition, bromocriptine can also alleviate symptoms of growth hormone cell adenoma, but the dosage is large and the efficacy is poor.