How to treat pituitary tumors? Will pituitary tumors cause gigantism?

A 49-year-old female patient presented with headache and progressive loss of binocular vision.

MRI of the head: a mass in the sellar region, extending to the suprasellar region, with ventricular dilatation.

Diagnosis: Pituitary adenoma

Surgical method: right subfrontal craniotomy and tumor resection in the sellar region

Intraoperative situation: The tumor had clear boundaries, tough texture, and abundant blood supply. The bilateral optic nerves were squeezed, displaced, and thinned, and the tumor was completely removed.

Postoperative condition: Visual acuity improved significantly.

Postoperative pathology: Pituitary adenoma

Postoperative follow-up imaging: A follow-up enhanced MRI of the head one year later showed complete removal of the tumor.

Summary: Pituitary tumors are common benign tumors in adults. They affect endocrine function in the early stage. Female prolactin adenomas may cause amenorrhea and lactation; male growth hormone adenomas may cause acromegaly, and the onset in adolescence may manifest as gigantism. In the late stage, pituitary tumors enlarge and compress the optic nerve, causing narrow visual field and decreased vision. The surgical methods include transsphenoidal approach and craniotomy tumor resection, and the surgical method depends on the size and growth pattern of the tumor. During the operation, attention should be paid to protecting the optic nerve, oculomotor nerve, and basilar artery circle, and strive for complete resection to reduce the possibility of short-term recurrence.