Management of large aggressive nonfunctional pituitary tumors: experimental medical options when surgery and radiation fail.

Abstract

Pituitary adenomas are generally considered benign tumors; however, a subset of these tumors displays aggressive behavior and are not easily cured. The protocol for nonsurgical treatment of aggressive pituitary lesions is less standardized than that of other central nervous system tumors. Aggressive surgical treatment, radiation, dopamine agonists, antiangiogenic drugs, and other chemotherapeutics all have roles in the treatment of aggressive pituitary tumors. More studies are needed to improve outcomes for patients with aggressive pituitary tumors.

• Authors: Brandon A Miller, W Caleb Rutledge, Adriana G Ioachimescu, Nelson M Oyesiku
• Journal: Neurosurgery clinics of North America (Neurosurg Clin N Am) Vol. 23 Issue 4 Pg. 587-94 (Oct 2012) ISSN: 1558-1349 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23040745 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Combined Modality Therapy
• Humans
• Pituitary Neoplasms (drug therapy, radiotherapy, surgery)
• Prolactinoma (drug therapy, radiotherapy)
• Treatment Outcome