[Nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas: diagnosis, treatment and follow-up]

*Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas are benign tumours characterised by the absence of hormone overproduction. *Clinical symptoms are caused by the mass effects of the tumour. The main symptoms are pituitary insufficiency, visual field defects, vision impairment and headache. *Treatment is unnecessary for tumours less than 1 cm, and an expectative approach can be used for some patients with larger tumours but no visual field defects. *Transsphenoidal surgery is indicated for patients with visual field defects. *Because nonfunctioning adenomas can recur, lifelong follow-up after treatment is necessary. *Poor quality of life has been reported in treated patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas, which may be due to the intrinsic imperfections of hormonal replacement therapy.