What You Should Know About Surviving Pituitary Tumors

Being diagnosed with a pituitary tumor can be a challenging experience for any patient. In general, the word “tumor” is often associated with cancer. However, this is not necessarily the case for almost all pituitary tumors.

Fortunately, most pituitary tumors are benign, meaning that they do not spread to other parts of the body and are non-cancerous. Therefore, they rarely affect the natural lifespan of the patient.

Understanding the course that a pituitary tumor can take is valuable to make informed decisions about treatment and for peace of mind.

This article will discuss and summarize the prognosis of pituitary tumors, the treatment options available to a patient, and life expectancy.

Because most pituitary tumors are very slow growing and therefore non-cancerous, the prognosis is generally favorable.

There is a very slight chance that a pituitary tumor is malignant, or cancerous, and can spread to other parts of the brain and body. However, malignancy occurs in less than 1% of pituitary tumors, so a cancer diagnosis is exceedingly rare for a pituitary adenoma.

Despite its benign nature, the presence of a pituitary adenoma can cause problems. By pressing against vital structures and tissues surrounding it, a pituitary adenoma can lead to issues such as partial vision loss (tunnel vision), growth issues, obesity/medical problems, and hormone deficiencies.

Some pituitary adenomas are functioning, meaning that they secrete excess hormones and cause imbalances in the body. Treatment with surgery, radiation therapy, medications, or a combination of the above is typically effective and can resolve symptoms.

Rarely, pituitary tumors can be resistant to conventional therapies and in such cases are called “refractory pituitary adenomas.” These tumors can be associated with frequent recurrences and invasive behavior despite treatment.

Life expectancy following the diagnosis of a pituitary tumor is overwhelmingly positive. The 5-year survival rate of pituitary adenomas is over 97%, meaning that the vast majority of people go on to live at least 5 or more years following diagnosis. Autopsy studies have even found that there are many individuals with pituitary tumors that go undiagnosed.

Understanding the pituitary tumor prognosis involves considering several factors. Here, we discuss the key variables that may affect a person's survival rate and how these variables relate to the patients’ experience living with this type of brain tumor.

Size and Location of the Tumor: The size, location and type of the pituitary tumor are the primary factors that affect its prognosis. Generally, smaller, benign tumors have a better prognosis than larger, rarely malignant ones. The prognosis may be more favorable if the growth is located in a region that can be accessed and removed more easily.

Patient's Overall Health: Individuals in good health tend to have a better prognosis and are less likely to experience complications from the treatment, increasing their chances of surviving a pituitary tumor.

Treatment Options and Response: Different ways to treat pituitary tumors can impact a person's chances of recovery. The effectiveness of the treatment can also play a crucial role in determining the patient's survival rate. 

Pituitary tumors can be treated through surgery, radiation therapy, medications, or a combination of the above. Pituitary tumors that do not cause symptoms may not require treatment at all.

Such pituitary tumors can simply be observed over time with regular follow-up. Treatment options depend on several factors, including age, the patient’s overall health, possible side effects, and the size of the pituitary tumor.

A pituitary tumor can cause a variety of symptoms if it produces excessive amounts of hormones or presses against the vision (optic) nerves. Symptoms can include: 

• Headaches
• Blurred vision
• Loss of peripheral vision
• Mood changes
• Unexpected weight gain
• Irregular menstrual cycles in women
• High blood pressure
• Decreased mental function
• Muscle weakness and fatigue

After treatment and recovery, many patients go on to resume their daily lives. Follow-up care ensures the best possible pituitary tumor prognosis. This will help your medical team monitor your progress, identify any complications or signs of recurrence and make it easier for you to manage the long-term effects of living with a treated pituitary tumor.

Regular follow-up (typically MRI every year) is performed to monitor for recurrence of the tumor. Hormone replacement therapy may also be required to maintain normal hormone levels after tumor removal.

Besides the neurosurgeon, your care team may involve an endocrinologist and neurologist. Endocrinologists play an important role in your overall treatment plan long term. During follow-up appointments, imaging scans and blood tests are conducted.

Still, it's essential to keep in mind that everyone's recovery outlook and pituitary tumor prognosis vary depending on many factors. Therefore, it's necessary to maintain open communication with your healthcare team and discuss any changes or concerns you may experience during your recovery journey.

Pituitary tumors are often benign and associated with excellent prognosis. Though they are slow-growing, they can cause symptoms if the tumor grows large enough to place pressure on surrounding tissues or secretes excessive hormones.

Surgery, medication, and/or radiation therapy are options for treating pituitary tumors. Pituitary tumors rarely alter your lifespan; however, regular follow-up is required after treatment to monitor for recurrence.

• Pituitary Network Association 
• National Brain Tumor Society
• American Brain Tumor Association 
• Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
• Endocrine Society 
• Pituitary Foundation 
• Cushing’s Support & Research Foundation