title: [Radiotherapy of pituitary tumours].
abstract: In this article, the role of conventional radiotherapy and radiosurgery in the management of pituitary tumors is discussed. After a brief review about the mechanism of action and different techniques of irradiation therapy, the therapeutic effectiveness and side effects are analysed in the various types of pituitary tumors. Conventional fractionated radiotherapy has long been used to control growth and/or hormonal secretion of residual or recurrent pituitary tumors. Nevertheless, there is still a controversy concerning patient selection for radiotherapy, because several potentially significant side effects including hypopituitarism may develop. Stereotactic radiosurgical methods may have several advantages over conventional radiotherapy; they can be applied, for example, in patients with residual or recurrent pituitary tumors who had previously received conventional radiotherapy. However, long-term follow-up data with these relatively new techniques are still limited.
authors.affiliation: Altalános Orvostudományi Kar, II Belgyógyászati Klinika, Budapest.
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mondok
authors.forename: T György
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Szeifert
authors.forename: Arpád
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Czirják
authors.forename: Edit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gláz
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nyáry
authors.forename: Károly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rácz
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000532:radiotherapy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000532:radiotherapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000209:etiology; D009336:Necrosis / Q000209:etiology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000532:radiotherapy; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000209:etiology; D009897:Optic Chiasm / Q000528:radiation effects; D018579:Patient Selection; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016634:Radiosurgery; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects