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Updated: Feb 16, 2026

Three-dimensional Alginate-bead Culture of Human Pituitary Adenoma Cells
Published on: February 18, 2016
Management of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFAs): observation
1Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 645 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 530, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
Abstract:
Clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFAs) range from those causing significant hypothalamic/pituitary dysfunction and visual field compromise due to their large size to those being completely asymptomatic. In the absence of hypersecretion, hypopituitarism or visual field defects, patients with NFAs may be followed by periodic surveillance using MRI to detect tumor enlargement. In some cases, endocrine tests are also needed during observation to discover new pituitary dysfunction. Enlargement of NFAs without treatment occurs in about 10% of microadenomas and 23% of macroadenomas. Growth of a pituitary incidentaloma, the development of visual field defects or the development of hypopituitarism are potential indications for surgery during follow up.
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