Hypophysectomy & Craniotomy Pituitary Gland Removal Surgery
Cancers Or Tumors In The Pituitary Gland
About 10% of the population will develop a tumor in the pituitary gland at some point in their lives. Often they remain undiagnosed and untreated without symptoms but they can have symptoms.
If tumors or cancers are found, a transsphenoidal hypophysectomy or craniotomy must be performed to remove the tumor or cancer through surgery.
The pituitary gland is in the middle of the brain or head just behind the nose or nasal cavity and creates hormones that control/regulate metabolism and growth in the body. Abnormal hormone levels can create all sorts of symptoms.
Transsphenoidal Hypophysectomy Vs Craniotomy Procedure
95 percent of pituitary gland tumors are removed with a transsphenoidal hypophysectomy procedure, or surgery through the nasal cavity or passage.
The other 5 percent of pituitary gland surgeries are done using a craniotomy, or surgery to remove the tumor or cancer through the cranium or skull.
Both a transsphenoidal hypophysectomy and craniotomy are major operations and only performed when there are tumors or cancer in the pituitary gland such as craniopharyngioma tumors that do not go away with other methods of treatment.
