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Seminars in Neurosurgery 2001; 12(3): 333-336
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-33624
Copyright © 2002 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

Treatment of Recurrent Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas

Ivan Ciric
  • Division of Neurosurgery, Northwestern University Medical School, Evanston, Illinois
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Publication History

Publication Date:
27 August 2002 (online)

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ABSTRACT

The term nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas is probably a misnomer because we tend to group into this category pituitary tumors that do not secrete prolactin, growth hormone, or adrenocorticotropic hormone. In fact, many of these so-called nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas do secrete different hormones, most frequently the alpha subunit of the follicle-stimulating hormone. Their behavior and natural course, however, parallel that of the truly nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas. Considering this, and the fact that there is no effective medical management for these tumors, they will be included in our discussion of the treatment of recurrent nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas in this article.

KEYWORDS

Residual - recurrent - pituitary - adenoma - diagnosis - treatment

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