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Updated: May 8, 2026
07:43
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Headache and pituitary disease: a systematic review
I Kreitschmann-Andermahr1, S Siegel, R Weber Carneiro
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Essen, Essen, Germany; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
Clinical Endocrinology
|August 15, 2013
Summary
Headache is common in pituitary disease, with causes including tumor size and hormone imbalances. Treatment effectiveness varies, and further research is needed for clear correlations.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
Background:
- Headache is a frequent symptom in pituitary disease, affecting over a third of patients with pituitary adenomas.
- Potential causes include tumor size, cavernous sinus invasion, and hormonal imbalances (hypersecretion or deficiency).
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the literature on the association between headaches and pituitary disease or hormonal dysregulation.
- To explore the underlying mechanisms and treatment implications of headaches in the context of pituitary disorders.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of studies examining headaches in pituitary disease.
- Analysis of retrospective data and non-International Headache Society (IHS) classified headaches.
Main Results:
- Pituitary apoplexy universally presents with headaches due to mechanical factors.
- The link between headaches and other pituitary diseases, cavernous sinus invasion, or inflammation is less clear.
- Oversecretion of growth hormone (GH) and prolactin may contribute to headaches; somatostatin analogues show promise in treatment.
Conclusions:
- Headache in pituitary disease has multifactorial causes, with varying degrees of evidence.
- Accurate clinical assessment and classification, including psychosocial factors, are crucial for managing headaches.
- While surgery may help in some cases, its impact on headaches is not guaranteed.
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