subject: Cyberknife treatment for Pituitary adenoma [print this page] Cyberknife treatment for Pituitary adenoma
The pituitary gland is called as the master gland of the body. This is because it controls most of the body's endocrine functions by secreting nine distinct hormones like prolactin, oxytocin, antidiuretic hormone [ADH], thyroid-stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and human growth hormone. All of which regulates activities of other endocrine glands. The pituitary gland is divided into two lobes: front or anterior and rear or posterior. Benign tumors usually develop on the anterior part of the gland. Tumors rarely develop on the posterior part of it. Most brain tumors are pituitary tumors, making them as the 3rd most common type of it. Among the pituitary tumors, pituitary adenomas are the most common. These adenomas can further be classified depending on the type of hormones they secrete. Hormonal imbalance is a common clinical manifestation of the disease. The etiology of pituitary adenoma is unknown. Researches say that it results from DNA changes that lead to rapid, uncontrolled growth, large enough to compress surrounding cells and structures. In rare cases, these tumors lead to spontaneous hemorrhage or may lead to infarction. Optic chiasm, which is usually found above the pituitary gland, is commonly compressed resulting to double vision and eventually to progressive loss of vision. Other symptoms related to tumor's location and sites are persistent headache, loss of peripheral vision, ptosis, seizures, facial numbness, hyperphagia or excessive eating and hypophagia or abnormal eating of small amount of food. Other symptoms associated with the hormone it releases are: hyperhydrosis or excessive sweating, appetite loss, loss of sexual interest, nausea, problems concerning menstrual periods, constipation and polyuria or excessive urination, constipation, growth delay, pubertal delays and galactorrhea or milk secretion in the absence of pregnancy. Surgery, radiotherapy, stereostatic radiosurgery and cyberknife are possible treatment for pituitary adenomas.
Treatments for pituitary adenomas depend on its location, type of hormone released and its extent of metastasis. Each treatment aims to normalive hormonal levels and to remove and/or to reduce the tumor's size. In a surgical procedure, removal of the tumor is done through craniotomy. However, once the pituitary gland is removed or damaged, life-long hormonal replacement therapy is required. Common clinical complication brought about by the procedure is meningitis due to leakage of cerebrospinal fluid through the nose leading to the inflammation of brain and spinal column membranes. On the other hand, radiation therapy may be done as adjunctive therapy to the surgical removal of the tumor. Stereotactic Radiosurgery makes use of highly prcised radiation beams to shrink the tumor. This is usually done to patients whose tumors do not respond to surgery or medication. Among the stereostatic radiosurgeries, cyberknife is the most common and effective.
Cyberknife treatment for Pituitary adenoma possesses the advantages of both the conventional radiation and radiosurgery treatment. The treatment lessens the radiation risk to sensitive structures surrounding the tumor like optic chiasm and hypothalamus. Among the treatments, cyberknife is painless. No screws, scalpels and frames are used. It is uses higher doses of radiation to extremely and accurately target the tumor, minimizing trauma and destruction to surrounding tissues. Also, risk of hemorrhage or blood loss is also prevented. This procedure may be done in an out-patient basis. Thus, patient may get back to his usual lifestyle after the procedure. No recovery time is needed. Known for this effective type of procedure is the Colorado CyberKnife. They use latest and credible hardware and software to help more patients more accurately, in a less time and less risk for complications. All of which enabling them to be known in the field of oncology.
