Pituitary tumor treatment in Turkey involves a multidisciplinary approach, with many doctors collaborating to provide the most effective care for these abnormal gland cell growths.
Pituitary tumors
The pituitary gland is a small endocrine gland the size of a pea, weighing less than 1 gram. It is attached to the base of the brain and located in a special hole called the “Sella turcica.” The gland secretes hormones that control most of the endocrine glands in the body, which is why it is sometimes called the master or controlling gland.
A pituitary tumor, considered a brain tumor, arises when some cells lose control of their growth and proliferation in the pituitary gland tissue. Some pituitary tumors produce hormones that increase their concentration in the blood, while others decrease it.
Fortunately, the majority of pituitary tumors are benign (adenomatous), meaning that the tumor stays in place and does not spread to other parts of the body, while malignant pituitary cancer is rare and seen only in very few cases.
Pituitary tumor treatment addresses issues caused by tumors, whether due to their large size pressing on the optic chiasm (non-functional tumors) or excessive hormone production (functional tumors), which leads to various symptoms depending on the hormone affected.
Pituitary tumor treatment in Turkey offers several options for benign tumors. Doctors may recommend monitoring, medications to manage hormonal effects, radiation to halt tumor growth or surgical removal of the tumor.
Types of pituitary tumors and symptoms
The symptoms of pituitary tumors vary according to the type of hormones they secrete and are categorized into the following types:
- Non-functional pituitary tumors: This type does not produce hormones, so it is not detected until it reaches large sizes, which is the most common. The size of the tumor may cause headaches and vision issues, or it may put pressure on healthy pituitary cells and reduce their hormone production.
- Prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors (prolactinoma): Prolactin (the milk hormone) produces milk in the breast of a nursing mother. High levels of prolactin may cause irregular or absent periods or milk production in non-lactating women, and in men, prolactin causes infertility, low sperm count, and some feminine traits.
- ACTH-secreting pituitary tumors: This hormone stimulates the adrenal gland to secrete steroids that affect metabolism and suppress immunity. High ACTH levels lead to Cushing’s disease, which is characterized by increased fat accumulation in the neck, face, back, abdomen, and chest and high blood pressure.
- Tumors of the GH-secreting pituitary gland: Growth hormone controls growth and the consumption of sugar and fat, excess growth hormone in children leads to gigantism, which is characterized by rapid growth, joint pain, and increased sweating, while in adults, acromegaly occurs, which is characterized by excessive growth of the skull, hands and feet, and diabetes may occur.
- Tumors of the TSH-secreting pituitary gland: This hormone stimulates thyroid hormone production, growth, temperature, and heart rate; high TSH leads to hyperthyroidism.
Pituitary tumor diagnosis in Turkey
The diagnosis of pituitary tumors is often delayed or discovered accidentally, either because they are small in size or because their symptoms are similar to other conditions and can be confused with them.
As part of pituitary tumor treatment, the doctor will evaluate the patient’s complaints, conduct a clinical examination, and, if a pituitary tumor is suspected, may order the following diagnostic tests:
- Blood and urine tests: These tests check hormonal levels in plasma and urine and detect any overactive or deficient glands.
- Visual field test: To see how the pituitary tumor affects vision.
- Brain imaging: CT or MRI to determine the exact location and size of the pituitary tumor.
Pituitary tumor treatment in Turkey
Early detection of a pituitary tumor in Turkey is key to effective pituitary tumor treatment and symptom control. Not all tumors require treatment; decisions depend on the tumor type, size, growth toward the brain, and the patient’s overall condition and preferences.
Pituitary tumor treatment often involves surgery, radiation therapy, or medications, and doctors may combine methods to achieve optimal results and restore hormone balance.
Pituitary tumor treatment with surgery
Pituitary surgery is one of the most important and most common methods used to treat pituitary tumors in Turkey. A neurosurgeon performs the surgery, and surgical treatment includes two surgical approaches:
- The transsphenoidal route: It includes 95% of pituitary resection surgeries, as it is entered through the nose along the nasal septum until reaching the sphenoid sinus and then to the pituitary gland located behind it, whether by microsurgery or using an endoscope, this route does not affect other brain parts and does not include an external scar, but it cannot remove large tumors, especially when the tumor has grown towards adjacent brain tissue, and foreign studies have proven the effectiveness of this route as the first treatment for most cases of pituitary tumors, Learn more about endoscopic pituitary surgery.
- Transcranial route: By making an opening in the skull or so-called “craniotomy” to access the pituitary gland and then remove the tumor, it is easier to access large and invasive tumors that cannot be safely removed via the sphenoidal route.
Both methods are safe and secure for pituitary tumor treatment if performed by an expert surgeon; Bimaristan Medical Center will connect you to the best neurosurgeons in Turkey if you are considering treatment in Turkey for pituitary tumor removal.
Pituitary tumor removal complications
Risks during or after pituitary surgery, such as bleeding, sepsis, and sensitivity to the anesthetic, are rare but can occur. Post-pituitary surgery symptoms include headaches and congestion for one to two weeks after the procedure and then resolve spontaneously.
Removing a pituitary tumor may lead to the removal of some healthy cells and a decrease in the concentration of hormones, especially in large tumors. However, this can be treated with compensatory hormone therapy, which involves taking medications that contain the body’s missing hormones.
Pituitary surgery complications are rare but can be serious, talk to your doctor about post-operative advice and clinic appointments and contact them immediately if you experience any issues.
Pituitary tumor treatment with radiation
Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to destroy tumor cells, stop tumor growth, and shrink the tumor over time. It can be performed after surgery or on its own if surgical treatment is not possible.
Radiotherapy is used to eliminate all remnants of the tumor after surgical resection and when the tumor relapses after resection and can be performed in the following ways:
- Conventional external beam radiotherapy: This is the most common type of radiotherapy, based on directing small amounts of radiation distributed over several sessions, usually 5 sessions per week for 4-6 weeks, this method is considered slow in controlling tumor growth and hormone production and may destroy normal cells in the pituitary gland or in nearby tissues.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery (Gamma Knife therapy): This technique directs radiation with a single high-dose beam focused on the tumor with complete precision, causing less damage to neighboring tissues. This technique is non-surgical in the sense that it does not require a surgical incision and is performed in only one session.
- Proton Beam Therapy: The treatment uses positively charged ions (protons) instead of X-rays; after the protons discharge their energy in the tumor, they stop emitting radiation. Unlike X-rays, this treatment requires special equipment and is not widely used.
However, radiation may carry some risks when used for a long time. Your oncologist in Turkey will evaluate your case and discuss all the advantages and disadvantages associated with radiotherapy. You can read more about radiation oncology treatment.
Pituitary tumor treatment with medications
Medications are the primary treatment for most functional hormone-producing pituitary tumors, as the medication stops the secretion of hormones or even can shrink the size of the tumor in some cases, depending on the type of tumor and the hormones it secretes:
- Prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors: It is worth noting that 80% of prolactinoma patients had their prolactin levels return to normal after using the dopaminergic steroids bromocriptine or cabergoline, and the tumor shrank in most of these patients in varying proportions, which led to improved symptoms of decreased vision, headaches, and the return of menstruation and fertility in women.
- GH-secreting pituitary tumors: Two medications can correct high GH after surgery: somatostatin analogs such as lanreotide or octreotide, which reduce GH secretion and may sometimes shrink the tumor size, and pegvisomant, which blocks the hormone’s effects on the receptors.
- ACTH-secreting pituitary tumors: Ketoconazole is used to lower the cortisol level by reducing its secretion but does not help shrink the tumor size.
Do not hesitate to contact us to guide you to the best expert specialists and provide you with the appropriate treatment and high-end service in the latest hospitals and medical centers in Turkey, Bimaristan Medical Center, your family in Turkey.
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