In order to make a well-founded choice between the therapeutic
modalities presently available it is important to have a clear picture
of the differences in the natural history of the various types of
pituitary tumours. One of the most important questions regards
possible differences in the tendency of the various tumours to grow
extrasellarly. A related question concerns the relationship between
the secretion rate of growth hormone, prolactin etc. and the size of
the respective tumour. In other words: do high serum levels of these
hormones in general indicate the presence of a large tumour and do
moderately increased levels point to a smaller tumour?
A parallel and for the management sometimes crucial question is a
possible relationship between tumour growth rate and the age of the
patient. Furthermore, one can ask what - in a therapeutic sense - may
be the significance of a combined secretion of growth hormone and
prolactin by a pituitary tumour.
The therapeutic part of our study concerns the efficacy and the
rapidity, with which the desired therapeutic endpoint may be reached
by means of (transsphenoidal) surgery, irradiation or the combination
of these treatments in the various types of pituitary tumours.
Furthermore, we have considered the value of medical treatment as an
additional or - possibly - as primary therapy