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Medically Reviewed |
Last reviewed by
Jennifer Kaplan, M.D.,
Mary Frances McAleer, M.D., Ph.D. and
Shaan M. Raza, M.D.
on
January 20, 2026
Pituitary Tumor Treatment
If you are diagnosed with a pituitary tumor, your doctor will discuss the best options to treat it. This depends on several factors, including where the tumor is, its size and the specific hormones it affects.
Your treatment will be personalized to your particular needs. One or more of the following therapies may be recommended to treat the tumor or help relieve symptoms.
Surgery
Depending on the tumor type, size and exact location, doctors may be able to remove all or part of the growth through surgery. There are two primary procedures for removing pituitary tumors, endoscopic endonasal surgery and skull base craniotomy.
Endoscopic endonasal surgery
This is a minimally invasive surgery that allows doctors to remove the tumor through the patient’s nasal passages. Surgeons cut a small hole inside the patient’s nose and access the tumor through the bones of the sinus cavity. They then use an endoscope, a thin tube with a camera and surgical tools on the end, to remove the tumor. Using advanced techniques and tools, doctors can navigate around key structures near the tumor, such as the optic nerves, the nerves responsible for eye movement and the carotid arteries.
Endoscopic endonasal surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Patients usually spend one to two nights in the hospital after surgery.
Skull base craniotomy
Skull base craniotomies are a type of keyhole surgery. During the procedure, surgeons create a small corridor (the keyhole) in the base of the skull. They then use advanced tools and techniques to reach the tumor. Whenever possible, doctors create the hole in a place where a scar won’t be noticeable, such as the hairline or behind the eyebrow.
Craniotomy patients are put under general anesthesia. They typically stay in the hospital for one to two days following the procedure.
Recovering from pituitary tumor surgery
The recovery process is similar for both types of surgery. Patients typically are able to walk the day of or after surgery. They can do routine tasks like cooking and cleaning a few days later.
Patients who perform physical labor can usually return to work in three to four weeks. If the patient works behind a desk, they can return one to two weeks after the surgery.
Full recovery usually takes about six weeks.
Hormone-regulating medicines
Patients whose hormones are affected by their tumor may take medicines that raise or lower their hormone levels to a healthy range. Drugs for prolactinomas (the most common type of hormone-producing pituitary tumor) may also shrink the tumor itself. In some cases, this is the only treatment pituitary tumor patients need.
Patients take these medications regularly, typically for life.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells, control their growth or relieve disease-related symptoms.
Chemotherapy is an option for patients with pituitary tumors that continue to grow after being treated with surgery, radiation therapy and hormone-regulating medicines. These tumors can be either benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).
Chemotherapy for pituitary tumor cancer is taken orally, as a pill. Patients who receive the medication may take it for just a few months or for as long as the rest of their lives.
Chemotherapy side effects
Side effects of chemotherapy include fatigue, nausea/vomiting, hair loss, headaches and skin rashes.
Patients should talk to their care team about any side effects they experience. These side effects often can be treated.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses powerful, focused beams of energy to kill tumor cells. There are several different radiation therapy approaches. Doctors can use these techniques to accurately target a tumor while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
Radiation therapy is a treatment for cancerous and non-cancerous pituitary tumors.
For pituitary tumors, techniques include IMRT, proton therapy and stereotactic radiosurgery.
Intensity modulated radiotherapy
Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) delivers a high dose of radiation by focusing multiple radiation beams of different intensities directly on the tumor. There are different types of IMRT treatment, including volumetric modulated arc therapy, or VMAT.
Proton therapy
Proton therapy is a type of radiation therapy. It is similar to standard radiation therapy, but it uses a different type of energy that limits radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissue. This may reduce side effects and allow the patient to get a more powerful dose of radiation.
Getting IMRT or proton therapy
Patients receiving either IMRT or proton therapy start with a CT scan simulation. This helps doctors plan the angles and shapes of the radiation beams that will be used for treatment. During simulation, brain tumor patients will be fitted with a mesh mask. The mask will hold the patient’s head in an exact position during treatment. This helps doctors deliver as much radiation to the tumor as possible while protecting healthy tissue. Patients are able to see and breathe through the mask.
Treatments usually begin about seven to 10 days after simulation. Most patients get one treatment a day, Monday through Friday, for up to six weeks.
Each session lasts around 30-45 minutes total. Most of this time is used to set up the patient and perform pre-treatment imaging to confirm the treatment site. The radiation usually is delivered for just five to 10 minutes per session. Patients typically don’t feel anything during treatment. Most patients do not need anesthesia, though some patients may require anxiety medication or sedation.
IMRT and proton therapy side effects
Brain tumor patients who get IMRT or proton therapy usually don’t experience side effects for the first half of treatment. Side effects usually start in the second half, including:
- Fatigue
- Nausea/vomiting
- Hair loss at the treatment site
- Mild skin irritation, similar to a slight sunburn
- Headaches
- Brain swelling that may cause the brain tumor symptoms to worsen or recur. This is usually mild and temporary and can be easily treated with medications.
Patients are seen by their radiation oncologists once every five treatments and should talk to their care team about side effects they are experiencing.
Long-term side effects
Radiation therapy to the brain can cause side effects that appear several months to years after treatment is complete. Patients receiving radiation to the pituitary gland have a high likelihood of developing hypopituitarism, or low levels or hormones produced by the pituitary gland. Symptoms of hypopituitarism include fatigue and weight gain. Your hormone levels will be monitored and managed by an endocrinologist.
Less common side effects include an increased risk of stroke, changes in memory and processing speed, and vision problems and a very low risk of a new tumor forming.
These side effects depend on the location of the tumor and how much radiation the patient gets. Overall, though, serious side effects are rare, and the benefits of radiation therapy far outweigh the risks.
Stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy
Despite its name, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is not a surgery. It is a non-invasive type of radiation therapy. SRS uses dozens of tiny radiation beams to accurately target tumors with high doses of radiation.
SRS is used to treat tumors in small areas in the head, such as pituitary tumors. It is also an option for patients who aren’t healthy enough for surgery.
Depending on the tumor size or location, patients may get one treatment. In other csaes, they may undergo three to five treatments. In these cases, the treatment is called stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT).
Getting SRS or SRT
There are different ways SRS and SRT are delivered. One is through a dedicated device called the Gamma Knife. The other is with a standard radiation therapy machine called a linear accelerator, or linac. Patients are treated with the machine that is best for them.
SRS starts with an imaging exam, such as a CT scan and/or an MRI scan, a few days before treatment. These images help doctors make a treatment plan. The actual therapy takes place a few days later.
Putting the patient’s head in an exact position during treatment is essential for stereotactic radiation to be effective. This ensures the tumor cells receive the radiation, not nearby healthy tissue. To position the head, some patients are fitted with a mesh mask before treatment. During the therapy, the mask is attached to the treatment table. Patients can see and breathe through the mask.
Other patients are fitted with a halo, called a frame, around the head on the day of the procedure. The halo is attached with four pins that are inserted through small incisions in the skin. The pins rest on the skull. Patients typically only need local anesthesia for this procedure.
The SRS treatment itself can take as little as 30 minutes or as long as several hours, depending on the patient’s needs.
Patients who use the mesh mask generally don’t need any recovery time.
If a patient was fitted with a halo, doctors will remove the device after the procedure and place a bandage over the pin sites. The patient is then observed in a recovery area for at least one hour or until approved for discharge.
SRS and SRT side effects
The short-term side effects of SRS and SRT are usually mild and often depend on the location of the tumor that was treated. They include:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Brain swelling that may cause the tumor symptoms to worsen or recur. This is usually mild and temporary and can be easily treated with medications.
- Patients fitted with the halo may have soreness around the pin sites and swelling of the forehead and around the eyes. These side effects may last up to 5 days following the procedure. They can be alleviated by sleeping with your head elevated on several pillows for at least one week following the procedure.
- Patients fitted with the halo may have persistent numbness of the scalp from the local anesthetic. This numbness may last several months following the procedure.
Long-term side effects
SRS and SRT can cause side effects that appear several months to years after treatment. These include an increased risk of stroke, changes in memory and processing speed, and changes in hormone function.
These side effects depend on the location of the tumor and how much radiation the patient gets. Overall, though, these risks are rare, and the benefits of radiation therapy far outweigh the risks. The doctor will discuss the likelihood of these side effects with the patient based on the planned treatment.
6 things to know about pituitary adenomas
Pituitary adenomas, also referred to as pituitary neuroendocrine tumors, are almost always benign tumors that arise from hormone-secreting cells in the pituitary gland.
This gland is situated at the base of the brain, just behind the bridge of the nose, inside a bony cave called the sella turcica. The pituitary gland is considered the “master” gland because it controls all the other hormone-producing glands in the body.
But are pituitary adenomas ever cancerous? What are their symptoms? And, how are they typically treated? Keep reading to learn the answers to these and other questions I sometimes hear about pituitary adenomas.
Are pituitary adenomas ever cancerous?
Pituitary adenomas are benign by definition. That means they are not cancerous. And, despite their location, they are not considered a type of brain tumor.
Very rarely, pituitary adenomas can spread to other parts of the body. At that point, though, they are called something else: pituitary carcinomas.
Do pituitary adenomas ever cause symptoms?
Yes. There are two broad categories of pituitary adenomas: functioning and non-functioning.
Functioning tumors
These make too much of certain hormones that travel to other glands and affect how they behave. People’s symptoms vary based on the type of hormone being produced.
- Prolactinoma: Prolactin, also known as “the breast milk hormone,” can suppress the function of the gonads (ovaries in women and testes in men). Too much of it may cause decreased libido (chiefly men) and infertility (both sexes), missed periods (women), milky breast discharge (women, and very rarely men), and impotence and loss of body hair (men).
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): Too much ACTH leads to excessive production of cortisol, a condition called Cushing disease. Too much cortisol can cause weight gain (especially in the center part of the body), excessive fat deposits above the collar bones and upper back, a rounded face, thin skin, easy bruising, stretch marks, ankle swelling, osteoporosis, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
- Growth hormone: Too much of this hormone can lead to a condition called acromegaly, in which the soft tissues in the hands and feet become abnormally large. Other issues include facial and jaw changes, excessive sweating, heart disease, high blood pressure, joint pains/arthritis, sleep apnea, and diabetes.
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): Too much of this hormone can cause weight loss, anxiety, trouble sleeping, feeling too hot, and a rapid and sometimes irregular heartbeat.
Non-functioning tumors
These pituitary adenomas don’t secrete any hormones, so they’re considered “silent.” Once a non-functioning pituitary adenoma gets large enough, however, it can start compressing the optic chiasm. This may cause vision changes, especially along the sides of the visual fields, also known as peripheral vision.
Non-functioning tumors may also cause headaches and abnormally low hormone levels.
How are pituitary adenomas usually diagnosed?
Most patients with functioning pituitary adenomas are diagnosed when they start to experience symptoms and physical changes that lead to an assessment by a doctor. Then, imaging finds the tumor.
Patients with non-functioning pituitary adenomas, on the other hand, typically notice peripheral vision loss, headaches, or symptoms of low hormone levels first, which then leads to a brain MRI that reveals the tumor.
Finally, some people only find out they have a pituitary adenoma by accident when they’re getting a brain scan for some other reason. This is called an incidental finding.
How are pituitary adenomas typically treated? Do they have to be removed?
Pituitary adenomas are not life-threatening. Depending on their type, they can be treated with surgery, medication, and sometimes radiation therapy.
Prolactinomas, for example, can usually be treated with medicine alone. Surgery is another good option for people with small prolactinomas who prefer surgery over medication and for those who do not tolerate medication very well.
For all other functioning tumors, surgery is usually considered first, followed by additional treatment to lower hormone levels if surgery is not curative.
For non-functioning tumors, surgery is usually undertaken to improve vision and alleviate headaches. However, small, incidentally discovered non-functioning tumors may be monitored without therapy in patients who display no symptoms.
Finally, radiation therapy is sometimes needed to control tumor growth and/or treat excessive hormone production when other treatments don’t work.
What is the life expectancy of a person with pituitary adenoma?
Pituitary adenomas can lead to a shorter lifespan if the hormonal problems they cause are not well-controlled. However, with proper treatment, life expectancy for patients with pituitary adenomas is the same as anyone else’s.
What’s the most important thing to know about pituitary adenomas?
Pituitary adenomas and carcinomas are unique tumors that often require multidisciplinary expertise to treat them. Therefore, it is vital for every patient diagnosed with a pituitary tumor to consider being treated at a pituitary tumor center of excellence, such as MD Anderson.
A lot of people don’t realize this, simply because our name contains the word “cancer,” but MD Anderson also provides excellent care to patients with benign tumors.
Steven Waguespack, M.D., is an endocrinologist specializing in pituitary tumors, thyroid cancer and multiple endocrine neoplasia.
Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.
Foods to avoid with pituitary tumors
Pituitary tumors grow in the pituitary gland, the pea-sized structure just behind the eyes at the base of the brain. These tumors are almost always noncancerous, but they can cause problems if they create an overproduction of hormones in the body or grow large enough to press against the brain and optic nerves.
If you have a pituitary tumor, you may be wondering if there are any lifestyle changes you should make, such as your diet. We spoke with our clinical dietitians to learn more about diet and nutrition for people with pituitary tumors.
Aim for a healthy, plant-based diet
There’s not enough concrete evidence showing that specific foods are harmful to people with pituitary tumors.
“There’s no specific diet to follow if you have a pituitary tumor, so we recommend a healthy diet,” says senior clinical dietitian Trisha Rosemond. “Preferably, this is a plant-based diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats, and limits the amount of processed foods.”
This means half of your plate should be filled with fruits and vegetables. Aim to eat two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables each day. One serving is equivalent to one cup of raw fruits or vegetables and half a cup of cooked fruits or vegetables.
“We suggest choosing lean animal proteins, trimming visible fats and removing the skin from poultry,” says Rosemond. “Chicken, turkey or fish are preferred over red meat because research studies have shown that a person’s cancer risk increases with a high consumption of red meat, compared to other types of proteins.”
Manage treatment side effects with your diet
Treatment for pituitary tumors may include medication to help reduce hormone levels. The drugs commonly used can cause nausea or vomiting. A dietitian can help manage those side effects.
“Avoid foods that are spicy, fried or fatty because they don’t settle well in the stomach whenever you’re nauseous, and foods that have a strong aroma could also trigger nausea,” says Rosemond. “Try eating simple foods that can help ease nausea and settle the stomach, like plain toast or crackers. Ginger also helps.”
Rosemond also says eating smaller meals and snacks more frequently may be better than trying to consume big meals.
If you are suffering from fatigue, make sure you’re drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, Rosemond adds.
Maintaining nutrition with pituitary cancer
Though it’s rare, sometimes pituitary tumors can become cancerous and spread to other areas of the body. When treatment involves radiation therapy or chemotherapy, for example, the focus for dietitians becomes managing the diet and side effects.
“Some patients may experience changes in taste from chemotherapy, so finding foods they can tolerate and taste good to them sometimes requires thinking outside the box,” says Katie Roberts, clinical dietician at MD Anderson West Houston. “As dietitians, our goal is to ensure patients can eat and maintain their weight, which reduces the risk for malnutrition.”
This includes finding ways to incorporate extra, healthy calories in meals. Try adding avocado to your sandwich or drizzling honey on your oatmeal.
“We’ll often tell patients to try to eat something every two to three hours, even if it’s just a few bites or a protein shake – anything to get those extra calories in,” says Roberts.
Timing of meals is important
If a pituitary tumor is pressing onto the brain, patients may take steroids to reduce swelling.
“Steroids can elevate blood glucose levels and make patients very hungry,” says senior clinical dietitian Jessica Tilton. “The challenge then becomes making sure they get food frequently but avoiding refined carbohydrates like white rice, white flour, pasta and sweets because those elevate blood glucose.”
Make sure you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables – and that you’re eating breakfast, lunch, dinner and multiple snacks throughout the day. Scheduling these meals around medication times is important.
“If patients are taking chemotherapy at night, they could get nauseated, so they should eat dinner and take an anti-nausea pill two hours later,” says Tilton. “Thirty minutes after that, you can give them the oral chemotherapy medication. You have to be able to time the meals, so you can give the medication on schedule.”
Tilton suggests MD Anderson patients request a referral to one of our dietitians so they can develop a plan that works for them.
“You want to make sure to eat something at least every three hours,” she says. “Plan out your meals ahead of time.”
Tilton offers these examples for a day’s meals:
- Breakfast: Eggs, peanut butter on toast with banana OR oatmeal with fruit and lactose-free milk
- Lunch: Salad with soup
- Snack: Fruit with nut butter
- Dinner: Skinless, baked chicken breast with brown rice and broccoli
If you’re undergoing chemotherapy, drink plenty of water before and after treatments to stay hydrated, Tilton says.
Consult MD Anderson for other issues with pituitary tumors
Pituitary tumors don’t only affect the brain. They can also affect your ability to eat.
“Depending on the severity of the tumor, sometimes a patient can have difficulty swallowing,” says Tilton.
If you’re having trouble swallowing, schedule a visit with a speech pathologist at MD Anderson.
“The speech pathologist can evaluate the patient and tell exactly where the swallowing issue lies,” Roberts adds. “Plus, they can share what the safest foods and drinks are for the patient.”
Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or by calling 1-877-632-6789.