UPMC Pituitary Tumor Center of Excellence

More than 10,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with pituitary tumors and other related disorders. One in every five people may have a small pituitary growth.

The pituitary gland is critical to controlling hormone secretion throughout your body and regulating many bodily functions. Called the "master gland," it secretes hormones that regulate all other glands and hormones in the body. Although pituitary adenomas (tumors) are almost always noncancerous, they can cause symptoms that affect your daily life in a wide range of ways.

Research shows people with pituitary tumors and related disorders who visit a center with expert surgeons and specialists have better outcomes and fewer complications. The UPMC Pituitary Center of Excellence is a national leader in treating pituitary disorders.

Our surgeons have performed around 2,000 pituitary surgeries and perform around 100 each year. We have pioneered advanced surgical techniques, including the minimally invasive endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA). This approach, which has been performed more than 5,000 times at our center, has revolutionized the care of many tumors, including pituitary tumors.

Looking for Pituitary Care?

What Is the UPMC Pituitary Center of Excellence?

The UPMC Pituitary Center of Excellence provides expert care for pituitary tumors and related disorders.

The UPMC Pituitary Center's multidisciplinary team works together to offer a full care spectrum from diagnosis through treatment.

This range of care may include specialists in:

• Endocrinology.
• Endovascular neurosurgery.
• Neuro-ophthalmology.
• Neuroradiology/head and neck radiology.
• Neuroanesthesia.
• Neuro-oncology.
• Neuropathology.
• Neurosurgery.
• Otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat).
• Radiation oncology (including Gamma Knife® radiosurgery).

Our team creates a treatment plan individualized for each person. Treatment options may include surgery, medication, radiation therapy, or a combination of these options.

If surgery is needed, our team collaborates inside and outside the operating room to provide the best outcomes. Our surgical options include advanced procedures, including minimally invasive techniques.

What conditions do we treat?

The UPMC Pituitary Center of Excellence treats a wide range of pituitary disorders, including:

• Acromegaly.
• Craniopharyngiomas.
• Cushing’s disease.
• Endocrine-inactive adenomas.
• Pituitary adenomas (pituitary tumors).
• Pituitary apoplexy.
• Pituitary failure.
• Pituitary inflammation.
• Prolactinomas.
• Rathke cleft cysts.
• Recurrent pituitary adenomas.
• Sellar arachnoid cysts.
• Thyrotropinomas.

What Services and Treatments Do We Offer?

The UPMC Pituitary Center of Excellence is a regional, national, and international referral center for pituitary tumors and conditions. Our team of specialists evaluates, diagnoses, and treats people with pituitary tumors and related disorders.

Diagnostic services and procedures

As part of the diagnostic process, we will meet with you and ask about your medical history and symptoms. We may run tests to help diagnose or rule out vision loss, over or under production of hormones or other impact of pituitary tumors.

These tests include:

• Blood tests.
• Eye examinations.
• Hormone paneling.
• Imaging tests, including CT scans and MRIs.
• Neurological exams.
• Urine tests.
• Visual field tests.

Treatment options

Our team collaborates to develop an individualized treatment plan for you. In some cases, treatment may entail observation and symptom management.

Primary treatment options include:

• Medication.
• Radiation therapy, including Gamma Knife®️ radiosurgery.
• Surgery with the minimally invasive endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA).

Why Choose the UPMC Pituitary Center of Excellence?

Research shows that seeking treatment at a pituitary center with experienced surgeons can lead to fewer complications and better outcomes. The connection between experience and outcomes can be even stronger when addressing complex conditions.

The Pituitary Society's proposed consensus criteria for pituitary centers of excellence include a minimum of 50 surgical cases per year. We exceed this criterion and meet a host of others focused on outcomes and quality of care.

The UPMC Pituitary Center of Excellence is an international leader in treating pituitary tumors and related conditions.

We provide:

• Advanced treatments — UPMC pioneered the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA), the leading minimally invasive surgical technique for pituitary disorders. UPMC also helped to pioneer the Gamma Knife radiosurgery technique. In addition, our neuro-endocrinology team specializes in treating pituitary tumors and pituitary-related hormone disorders.
• Experienced surgeons — UPMC Pituitary Center of Excellence surgeons perform more than 100 pituitary surgeries each year.
• Multidisciplinary care — All UPMC Pituitary Center of Excellence doctors are subspecialty-trained. The team collaborates to diagnose and treat people with pituitary tumors and related disorders.
• Research — We are an active contributor to pituitary disorder research.
• Training and education — We provide fellowship and residency training, as well as continuing medical education opportunities, to advance knowledge and improve care of pituitary and neuroendocrine conditions.

By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-01-21 by Paul Andrew Gardner, MD.