Pituitary cryoablation.
Transphenoidal ablation of the pituitary gland by the injection of alcohol is used for the relief of wide-spread cancer pain. A technique is described in which a cryoprobe is passed through a transphenoidal needle and a number of lesions produced within the gland. It is suggested that this method of pituitary ablation may prove to be as effective but accompanied by fewer complications than the injection of alcohol.
D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007016:Hypophysectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000601:surgery*