Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery in Iran
Pituitary adenoma is actually an abnormal growth of part of this pituitary gland and is inherently benign.
The pituitary gland is located in the middle line at the base of the skull and is responsible for controlling the most important glandular functions of the body.
Pituitary tumor
So, as mentioned, pituitary tumors arise from the abnormal growth of healthy pituitary cells and are considered benign brain tumors.
Symptoms of pituitary adenoma tumor
Thus, apart from the headache and loss of vision that commonly occurs due to the proximity of the pituitary gland to the optic nerves, the symptoms of patients with pituitary tumors depend on the type and location of the adenoma, such as:
Discharge of milk from the breast at a time other than breastfeeding and even in men,
Puberty disorders, diabetes mellitus and other heart problems,
Abnormal growth of limbs and face that occurs after puberty and causes the patient’s hands, feet and face to become large and rough.
Another symptom of pituitary tumors is “tasteless diabetes”; A type of overeating and urination that is caused by a decrease in hormonal secretion, whose job is to inhibit the excretion of water in the urine, and in its absence, a lot of water is excreted in the urine.
The reason why this symptom is called tasteless diabetes is that although the volume of urine in diabetic patients also increases, it is accompanied by the excretion of sugar, unlike these patients who only have more water excretion in their urine and less urinary sugar.
Is pituitary gland enlargement dangerous?
As mentioned, enlargement of the pituitary gland can cause a decrease in vision and loss of vision by creating a compressive effect on the optic nerve.
Treatment of pituitary adenoma
Treatment of a pituitary tumor (pituitary adenoma) depends entirely on the type of tumor; Medication, surgery, radiation therapy, and sometimes gamma rays are all used.
Drug therapy is used in 90% of cases of prolactin-secreting tumors, which will be mentioned below.
Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery in Iran
Pituitary tumor surgery is usually treated with an endoscope or microscope from inside the nose, and are the only rare cases that require cranial surgery, and are considered cranial base surgeries.
Although this surgery seems low risk and low complication, but it certainly has its risks and complications, but it is less dangerous than open skull surgery and requires special care and should be under the supervision of the best neurosurgeon in Iran and the best surgeon Pituitary to be performed in Iran.
Non-surgical treatment of pituitary adenoma
Prolactin
Symptoms of acromegaly
Symptoms of Cushing’s disease
There are rarer types of adenomas that secrete thyroid-stimulating hormone and sex hormones.
There is another form that does not secrete hormones.
In this type, there are no hormonal symptoms and these patients are usually examined and diagnosed with reduced vision.
In general, pituitary adenoma is a tumor different from other brain tumors; It has hormonal symptoms, is usually operated on through the nose, and although it is benign, it can recur and can cause serious complications in other parts of the body.
الدکتور مهدي زينلی الزادة – استاذ جراحة المخ و قاعدة الجمجمة
Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery in Iran
Dr. Mehdi Zeinalizadeh – professor in brain surgery and cranial base
