Radiosurgery of pituitary adenoma

This procedure helps not only in the case of adenoma, but also in the case of the primary tumor. At the same time, it is highly efficient.

What is a pituitary adenoma?

This is a benign tumor that forms from the glandular tissue on the front of the pituitary gland. The problem is that it is responsible for hormonal secretion. As a result, the gonads, the functioning of the adrenal glands, and vision are affected, and the patient constantly experiences a feeling of thirst. Symptoms of such an adenoma include hormonal disorders and a sharp deterioration in vision.

How is radiosurgery ?

To begin with, the patient must take a sedative, then local anesthesia is administered. After this, a stereotaxic frame is placed on the head. It is necessary to conduct an MRI and CT scan of the brain. Based on the information received, it will be possible to draw up a detailed treatment plan. It is necessary to properly configure the Gamma Knife.

Next, the patient is placed on a special couch. His head should be fixed in such a way that the focus of the radiation beams is directed directly to the very center of the tumor. As for the duration, it is 1-6 hours.

As for the main advantages, it should be remembered that radiosurgery is a minimally invasive procedure. That is why everything will be done in just one session. Moreover, the patient will not experience any pain. Treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis. This means that the patient can return home immediately after the session. We need to summarize the main advantages:

• painlessness;
• efficiency;
• You won’t have to stay in the clinic afterwards.

Postoperative period

The result will not be visible immediately. After the procedure, the specialist will need to schedule follow-up studies. It happens that the radiation effect begins to appear after several months or even years. There is a good chance that radiosurgery may be needed again.

What do you need to do to prepare?

You should first contact a qualified clinic. Here you need to undergo an ECG and a blood test. If you have any allergic reactions, you must tell your doctor about them. The doctor should also check your hearing and vision.

Before undergoing radiosurgery, you should arrange with a relative or friend to come on the day of the operation. You should not eat in the evening or night before the session. In addition, you need to bathe with shampoo that contains chlorhexidine . Be sure to remove all jewelry from yourself, as it may prevent the equipment from working correctly. Remove extended nails.

In what case can you undergo this procedure?

It is available to almost everyone, but there are rare exceptions. Most often, the problem arises due to the fact that important structures are adjacent to the adenoma. For example, the carotid artery, nerves. In this case, there will be a residual adenoma, which will have to be dealt with by other methods.