[Postoperative radiotherapy in adenomas of the hypophysis]

Postoperative radiotherapy was performed in 58 patients with pituitary adenomas from 1977 to 1987. There were 21 non functioning adenomas and 22 growth hormone producing tumors. Extrasellar extension was found in 59% of patients. Radiotherapy was performed electively in 38 patients and due to tumor recurrence in 20. Megavoltage radiation was used in all patients. A dose of 5000 cGy in 5 weeks was attained in 54 of 58 patients. The recurrence free survival was 81% after a median follow-up of 6.8 years. Hypopituitarism developed in 13 of 58 patients. These findings confirm that external radiotherapy offers a real curative alternative for patients with macroadenomas of the pituitary gland.