[Gamma knife treatment for pituitary prolactinomas].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the outcome of gamma knife for prolactinomas.


METHODS
Eighty-nine patients were treated by gamma knife and 51 were followed up. The dose to the tumor margin ranged from 18 Gy to 35 Gy (mean 26.1 Gy). The maximum radiation dose varied from 36 Gy to 60 Gy (mean 50.41 Gy). The mean tumor diameter was 15.5 mm (5 - 26 mm).


RESULTS
The follow-up data were available for 51 patients ranging from 6 to 108 months (mean 37 months). The tumor growth control rate was 100%. The endocrinological remission rate was 40%. The rate of hypopituitarism was 17.6%.


CONCLUSIONS
Gamma knife radiosurgery can be used as a primary treatment for selected prolactinomas,especially for pituitary microadenomas.
Ma
Zhi-ming
ZM
Department of Neurological Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China. mazhiming64@yahoo.com.cn
Qiu
Bin
B
Hou
Yong-hong
YH
Liu
Yun-sheng
YS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007016:Hypophysectomy / Q000379:methods*; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome