[Therapy of hormone-active hypophyseal tumors from a neurosurgical viewpoint]

Perioperative hormone determinations were performed in 16 patients with acromegaly, in 12 patients with prolactinomas and in 4 patients with tumours producing ACTH. These determinations are an essential basis for assessing the results of the operation. Surgical treatment is the method of choice in hormone-active tumours if reduction of the elevated hormone values cannot be achieved with drug treatment. An exponential lowering of the hormone level can be obtained in acromegaly and in tumours producing ACTH. Although levels above 100 ng/ml could be reduced, it was not possible to restore them to standard values. In some cases, it was possible to lower the prolactin level, but normal values could never be obtained because of the size of tumours. The consequences resulting from these findings (drug treatment and radiotherapy) are discussed.