The second most common type of pituitary tumor, these tumors account for about 25 percent of pituitary adenomas. They do not produce hormones, but they can affect the secretion of reproductive hormones elsewhere in the body, including disrupting testosterone production in men. Nonfunctional pituitary tumors occur most often in men between the ages of 50 and 60.
Symptoms
Nonfunctional pituitary tumors are usually not found until they have grown large enough to cause symptoms. Such symptoms may include headache and vision disturbances, as the tumor presses on the nearby optic nerve. Men with a nonfunctional pituitary tumor may experience loss of libido due to decreased testosterone. In women, these tumors may cause irregular menstrual periods.
Diagnosis
If your doctor suspects a nonfunctional pituitary tumor, a blood test may be ordered to measure levels of certain hormones, such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). MRI may also be used to visualize the tumor.
Treatment
Surgery to remove the tumor is the primary therapy for nonfunctional pituitary tumors. Surgery for pituitary tumors is often performed through a minimally invasive approach called transphenoidal transnasal resection, whereby the surgeon removes the tumor through an incision in the nasal passage. In cases where the tumor is too large to be removed through this approach, the surgeon performs a craniotomy, removing the tumor through an incision in the front of the skull.
If surgery alone is not curative, you may also have radiation therapy. Our experts use radiosurgery and intensity-modulated radiation treatment (IMRT) to target these tumors.
Radiosurgery, or stereotaxic radiosurgery, is a type of external radiation therapy that uses special equipment to give a single large dose of radiation to a tumor. IMRT uses radiation beams of varying intensity created to match specific tumor angles and shapes so that the tumor is targeted as precisely and uniformly as possible. This helps to reduce the damage to delicate structures in the area, such as the optic nerves.
There are currently no drugs that have consistently been shown to be effective for treating nonfunctional pituitary tumors.
Follow-Up
Your doctor will see you periodically and perform certain tests to ensure that your pituitary tumor has not returned.
