Advances in stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of pituitary adenomas.
OBJECTIVE
Stereotactic radiosurgery has become the preferred radiation treatment modality for secreting and nonsecreting pituitary adenomas, although randomized studies comparing delivery systems, fractionation and dose have not been performed.


RESULTS
The technical achievement of radiosurgery delivery systems has minimized the radiation dose to surrounding normal tissue compared with external beam radiotherapy. With a reduction in acute and chronic side effects, the total dose to abnormal tissue can be increased allowing for greater tumor control.


CONCLUSIONS
The radiobiology, control rates and normal tissue tolerances of stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of pituitary adenomas is reviewed.
Mayberg
Marc
M
Neurological Surgery, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, Washington 98122, USA. Marc.Mayberg@swedish.org
Vermeulen
Sandra
S
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D000236:Adenoma / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D047748:Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D016634:Radiosurgery