When is radiation therapy used for pituitary tumors?
Radiation therapy is sometimes recommended for patients with known residual tumors following surgery, or in cases of where tumors come back after surgery. At the time of diagnosis, some very large tumors may have already invaded other parts of the brain. Surgery would be performed to decompress the optic nerves and chiasm (release the pressure being placed on them by the tumor). Radiation therapy may be used to minimize the risks of tumor regrowth.
