The experts at Tampa General Hospital’s renowned Pituitary Tumor Center skillfully perform pituitary tumor surgery. We’re part of Tampa General Hospital’s Neuroscience Institute—which U.S. News & World Report named as one of the top 10% of hospitals for Neurology & Neurosurgery nationwide for 2024-25—and we stand apart from many other providers because we employ a multidisciplinary team, use state-of-the-art equipment (including intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging or iMRI) and actively participate in national conferences. We’re also the only treatment center in Tampa Bay with dedicated monthly pituitary conferences, where our team meets to discuss critical cases.

Conditions Treated with Pituitary Surgery

The goal of pituitary surgery is to resect (remove) tumors that have developed in the pituitary gland, a pea-sized organ located behind the nose, near the base of the brain. This gland produces, stores and releases hormones that help monitor and regulate various bodily functions, and tumors can cause it to make either too little or too much of those hormones. 

Diagnosing Pituitary Tumors

If a medical provider suspects that you have a pituitary tumor, they’ll likely order one or more of the following tests to confirm the diagnosis:

• Blood test
• Computed tomography (CT) scan
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
• Urine test
• Vision test

If these tests indicate that you have a pituitary tumor, your physician will recommend the approach that’s most appropriate for your needs. In addition to pituitary surgery, treatment options may include medication or radiation therapy. Notably, because many pituitary tumors are benign (noncancerous) and don’t produce any symptoms, treatment is not always necessary, so your doctor might suggest taking a wait-and-see approach.

Pituitary Surgery Details

There are two main types of pituitary surgery:

• Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (transsphenoidal adenomectomy) – This minimally invasive procedure can often be used to remove small pituitary tumors that haven’t spread to surrounding tissues, and it’s the more common of the two pituitary surgery types. The pituitary tumor surgeon makes an incision within the nose, opens the sphenoid sinus, then passes small surgical tools through the sinus to reach the pituitary tumor, all while watching close-up video on a monitor. They remove the tumor through the sinus and nose in small pieces, then close the incision. Notably, Tampa General Hospital was the first treatment center in Florida to use the innovative KARL STORZ 3D endoscopic technique.
• Transcranial surgery (craniotomy) – If a pituitary tumor is especially large or has begun growing into adjacent tissues, then a traditional craniotomy may be more appropriate. During this procedure, the pituitary tumor surgeon creates an opening in the front of the skull, then removes the tumor through that opening.

In some cases, the treatment team will recommend using a combination of both pituitary surgery types to help ensure that the tumor is removed completely.

What to Expect with Pituitary Surgery

If you decide to undergo pituitary surgery, your surgeon will provide you with instructions for before and after the procedure. It’s important to carefully follow those directions because they’ll be customized to your specific needs. In general, you’ll likely need to stop eating, drinking and taking certain medications for a set amount of time prior to surgery.

If you undergo pituitary surgery, you may need to stay in the hospital for a day or two following the procedure. Once released, you’ll have to avoid lifting and straining for a set amount of time, and you’ll also have to attend follow-up appointments with your treatment team. Your surgeon can provide you with an estimated recovery time for pituitary surgery.

Pituitary surgery is generally considered to be safe, but as with any procedure, it presents certain risks, including:

• Artery damage
• Bleeding
• Brain or nerve damage
• Cerebrospinal fluid leakage
• Diabetes insipidus
• Headache
• Infection
• Meningitis
• Nasal congestion
• Pituitary gland damage
• Reactions to anesthesia
• Stroke
• Vision problems

Effectiveness

The effectiveness of pituitary surgery varies from one patient to another depending on factors such as:

• The tumor’s type, size and location
• Whether the tumor has spread into nearby tissues
• The patient’s age and overall health

Once your pituitary tumor surgeon has learned about your specific condition, they’ll be able to discuss expected results with you.

Become a Patient

If you think you might be a candidate for pituitary surgery or any of the other procedures offered at Tampa General Hospital’s Pituitary Tumor Center, contact us at (800) 822-3627. Our knowledgeable team can tell you more about our approach to care, answer your questions and arrange a time for an initial consultation. Located in the heart of Tampa, FL, we’re just a few miles away from numerous hotels, making us a convenient care option for patients who decided to travel to the Tampa Bay area for care.