What pituitary tumor treatments are available at Stanford Hospital & Clinics?
Specific treatment for pituitary tumors will be determined by your physician based on: • your age, overall health, and medical history • extent of the disease • your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies • expectations for the course of the disease • your opinion or preference Treatment may include: • surgical removal of the tumor • external radiation (external beam therapy) – a treatment that precisely sends high levels of radiation directly to the cancer cells. The machine is controlled by the radiation therapist. Since radiation is used to kill cancer cells and to shrink tumors, special shields may be used to protect the tissue surrounding the treatment area. Radiation treatments are painless and usually last a few minutes. • stereotactic radiation therapy – a new radiation therapy that uses a single high dose of radiation sent directly into the cancerous tissue with very narrow beams of radiation. This is a precise technique that targets the cancer tumor, cau
