Preoperative Workup for Patients with Pituitary Lesions

The pituitary gland plays a vital role in hormonal regulation. Pituitary lesions include tumors, cysts, and inflammatory processes that require multidisciplinary care from endocrinologists, neuro-ophthalmologists, neurosurgeons, and otolaryngologists. Treatment is typically aimed at controlling hormonal hypersecretion, decompressing the optic apparatus, and reducing tumor volume, and surgery is a common first-line approach. In this article, we provide a background on the function of the pituitary gland, common pituitary lesions, and their clinical presentations, as well as a summary of the history and physical, laboratory testing, and imaging required for the workup of a pituitary lesion.