Radiotherapy

This method of therapy relies on delivering doses of radiation directly to the tumor. It is highly effective in shrinking over 95% of GH pituitary tumors, but is very slow in onset and results are not evident for many years after treatment. This therapy is generally used as an adjunct to surgery and may require concomitant use of medical therapy until the radiation is effective. It may be considered for use in patients with nonresectable pituitary tumors, residual pituitary disease, post surgery, medical therapy failure and patient preference. Radiation may be delivered by several different methods:

• Conventional X-Ray Irradiation (multiple sessions)

• Linear accelerator
• Proton Beam Irradiation (single session)
• Stereotactic Radiosurgery (Gamma Knife) - This focused beam of radiation can be delivered in a single session or in fractionated doses.

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