Question: How often do additional pituitary tumors develop in Cushing’s patients who have had a pituitary tumor successfully removed? Is there a time frame during which this occurs?

Answer: “New” pituitary tumors very rarely occur in patients who have had a pituitary tumor removed. However, a recurrence (regrowth of a tumor in the same area of the pituitary) is seen in approximately 5 % of cases. This is most likely due to incomplete removal of perhaps a few cells of the previous tumor. Most recurrences are observed within the first five years after surgery.

By Dr. David Orth MD (Fall, 1996)