Hypophysectomy in the treatment of disseminated prostate carcinoma

Seventeen patients suffering severe pain secondary to disseminated prostate cancer were subjected to hypophysectomy. Prolonged remission of pain and increased survival duration appeared to be consequent to obtaining objective signs of tumor regression. Patients who had only subjective improvement had significantly shorter periods of remission and survival. Patients with hematocrits less than 30% and patients demonstrating evidence of liver involvement did not obtain objective remissions.