Surgical Treatments for Pituitary and Skull Base Tumors

Endoscopic Endonasal Approach (EEA)

For most people, the best treatment is to remove the pituitary tumor. At UPMC, the preferred method for this surgery is the Endoscopic Endonasal Approach (EEA).

EEA treatment for pituitary tumors allows surgeons to:

• See the pituitary gland well without making an open incision.
• Remove the pituitary tumor through the nose and nasal cavities.
• Carefully explore the remaining pituitary gland to check for other lesions and remove all abnormal tissue.

However, there are situations in which a traditional approach is still required.

Gamma Knife^® Radiosurgery

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a painless procedure that uses radiation beams to target pituitary tumors and lesions, and skull base tumors, with no surgical incision.

We use Gamma Knife to treat residual pituitary and skull base tumors after surgery and recurrence.