A pituitary tumor is usually benign, but it can cause headaches, vision issues, and hormonal disruption. It requires surgery if it doesn’t respond to medication, keeps enlarging, or causes significant hormonal issues.
When Should a Pituitary Tumor Be Removed?
A tiny, almost pea-sized gland located right beneath your brain releases hormones that control many vital functions, such as reproduction, growth, metabolism, and thyroid activity. In most cases, a tumor found in the pituitary gland is benign, meaning it doesn’t spread to other parts of the body.
However, it can still cause issues, such as disrupting hormone production or pressing on the optic nerves. Some tumors are slow-growing and asymptomatic. They don’t require treatment. However, certain types may require pituitary tumor surgery in Kolhapur.
Do All Pituitary Tumors Need Surgery?
No, not all pituitary tumors need surgical removal. If they are non-functional, i.e., they do not produce hormones, they can be managed with regular eye checkups, MRIs, and hormone tests. Even the ones producing hormones can be effectively managed with medication.
For example, a tumor secreting prolactin (a hormone affecting your periods and causing breastmilk production outside of pregnancy) can be managed with dopamine agonist medications.
The major factors that determine whether a surgical intervention is needed include the tumor’s growth rate, size, location, hormone activity, and the patient’s age and health.
Here’s when these tumors may need removal:
It Presses on the Optic Nerves
Growing tumors can compress the optic nerves, which can affect your vision. Changes to your vision, such as reduced vision, double vision, blurry vision, or difficulty seeing objects clearly, may develop gradually and often go unnoticed until a significant change occurs.
It Causes Hormonal Issues
Pituitary tumors can release excessive growth hormone, which can increase the risk of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, facial changes, and joint pain.
Likewise, ACTH-producing and TSH-producing tumors can cause a range of symptoms along with mood changes. When a tumor causes significant hormonal change, a surgical removal may be the most appropriate treatment option.
It Keeps Growing
Even if the tumor is asymptomatic initially, a neurosurgeon at WIINS Hospital in Kolhapur may recommend its removal if your MRI scans show rapid tumor growth. That’s why regular MRIs are scheduled to track the tumor’s size, location, and growth rate.
A fast-growing pituitary tumor can affect the nearby structures, increasing the risk of complications, such as growth abnormalities, fatigue, and unexplained weight changes.
Pituitary Apoplexy
A rare yet serious medical condition, Pituitary Apoplexy, refers to the sudden bleeding inside your pituitary gland or loss of blood supply within the tumor. It can cause severe headaches, vision loss, vomiting, confusion, or a hormonal crisis. Such cases require emergency surgical removal of the tumor to protect the surrounding structures and your vision.
The Tumor is Non-Responsive to the Medication
Hormone-producing tumors often respond well to medication. However, some may not shrink or may continue to produce hormones. Sometimes, the medication itself causes persistent side effects. In such cases, a surgical removal of the tumor may be the most effective decision, as it offers long-term relief.
There’s a possibility of tumor recurrence even after surgery, which is why regular monitoring and scans are necessary to detect recurring tumors early, often before symptoms develop.
