Management of Clinically Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenomas

Abstract

  In 2017, the World Health Organization re-classified pituitary adenomas based on hormone-producing ability and pituitary adenohypophyseal cell lineage. Non-functioning pituitary adenomas account for approximately half of all said tumors, often presenting as visual acuity and visual field disturbances. Currently, no effective pharmacologic therapy has been established for non-functioning pituitary adenomas. Therefore, surgical treatment is the first line of treatment, with endoscopic surgery becoming the mainstream choice. The simultaneous combined supra- and infrasellar approach is effective in treating giant pituitary adenomas, while stereotactic radiotherapy is effective in residual and recurrent tumors. Non-functioning pituitary adenomas are benign tumors with a promising long-term prognosis, and appropriate hormone replacement is required to maintain the patient's quality of life.