Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Pituitary Adenoma

Pituitary adenomas have an incidence of 3.9 to 7.4/100,000 per year. Medical therapy and/or resection are often initial treatments for patients with pituitary adenomas. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is frequently used for treating patients with recurrent or residual pituitary adenomas. SRS affords a high rate of local tumor control and, for functioning adenomas, a reasonable rate of endocrine remission. Delayed hypopituitarism after SRS occurs in a minority of patients but is correctable with hormonal replacement. Cranial nerve palsies after SRS are relatively rare. Hypofractionated SRS also has expanded the indications for treating pituitary adenomas.