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Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Headache associated with pituitary tumors.
Jackson A Gondim1, João Paulo Cavalcante de Almeida, Lucas Alverne Freitas de Albuquerque
1Neurosurgery Division of Neurosurgery Department, General Hospital of Fortaleza (HGF), CE, Brazil. jackson.gondim@laposte.net
The Journal of Headache and Pain
|December 11, 2008
Summary
Headache in pituitary tumors is linked to tumor size, extension, and intrasellar pressure. Prolactinomas and other factors also influence headache presence and characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Neurosurgery
- Oncology
Background:
- Pituitary tumors can cause headaches, but the specific factors influencing headache presence and characteristics require further investigation.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for diagnosis and patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze headache characteristics in patients with pituitary tumors.
- To investigate the relationship between headache and pituitary tumor size, biological type, local extension, and intrasellar pressure (ISP).
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 64 consecutive patients with primary pituitary masses.
- Detailed analysis of headache features and tumor characteristics, including size, optic compression, sellar destruction, cavernous sinus invasion, and ISP.
Main Results:
- Significant associations were found between pituitary tumors and tumor size, optic compression, sellar destruction, cavernous sinus invasion, and ISP.
- Biochemical-neuroendocrine factors, particularly in prolactinomas, appear to be important in headache development.
Conclusions:
- Headache in pituitary tumors is multifactorial, influenced by ISP, tumor extension, sellar structure relationships, and patient predisposition.
- Familial history and hypothalamo-pituitary axis dysfunction also contribute to headache presentation.
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