Treatment depends on the type of tumor and whether it has grown beyond the area of the pituitary gland.
Tumors that produce hormones are treated with surgery or radiation, with the surgical approach, a transsphenoidal hypophysectomy, usually the treatment chosen for tumors that have not grown outside the bony cavity. Larger tumors, usually non-functioning adenomas, need additional treatment with radiation.
Prolactin-secreting tumors may stabilize and improve with time. People with these tumors usually benefit from treatment with bromocriptine.
Tumors that produce growth hormone and ACTH usually grow slowly. With any of the pituitary tumors, however, surgery is called for immediately if vision starts to deteriorate rapidly.
