Question: I have had two transsphenoidal surgeries, followed by removal of my adrenal glands, and now have Nelson’s. What would be the treatment of choice, complete removal of my pituitary gland, radiation, or both? Answer: Nelson’s syndrome represents the enlargement of an ACTH secreting pituitary tumor following removal of both adrenal glands. Initially described in… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Doctor’s Answers
Symptoms of Recurrent Cushing’s Disease
Question: If someone is having a recurrence of Cushing’s Disease, will the symptoms be the same as the original Cushing’s? What symptoms should we be looking for? Answer: Patients who experience a recurrence of Cushing’s are often more perceptive of changes the second time and are often accurate in suspecting a recurrence. In my clinical… Continue Reading
Macroadenoma Recurrence Rate
Question: What percentage of those with pituitary macroadenomas who have transsphenoidal surgery have a recurrence? Answer: For macroadenomas causing Cushing’s, the recurrence rate is about 10% in 10 years. These are often invasive lesions… Continue Reading
Hypopituitarism After Radiation
Question: Following radiation for a pituitary tumor, is there a risk that the entire pituitary will be unable to function normally? Answer: Many patients maintain normal pituitary function following radiation therapy to the pituitary for a few years; however, within ten years, a significant percentage of patients develop some type of pituitary hormone deficiency and… Continue Reading
How Does Radiation Therapy Work?
Question: How does radiation therapy work? I thought it immediately killed the tumor, but I have heard that isn’t always true. Answer: Radiation therapy does not usually work immediately in any patient with any type of pituitary tumor. Pituitary tumor cells are fairly slow growing and the aim of radiation is to destroy the cells… Continue Reading
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