PITUITARY MACROADENOMA

[SHENAAZ]

Hi, my husband recently found out that the approx. size of the enhancing mass was 2.2cm in longitudinal extent, 1.9cm AP and approx. 1.6cm in transverse diameter.  The mass extended superiorly into the suprasellar cistern and was slightly lobulated in appearance at its superior surfance.  The pituatary stalk itself could not be demonstrated on the sequences and the cavernous sinuses were well demonstrated with normal appearances and without involvement with the cavernous sinus.  The scans through the pituatary gland region does reveal the mass positioned within the pituatary fossa which was intermediate signal intensity on the T1 study, high signal intensity on the T2 study and did enhance fairly intensely with contrast medium on the post Gadolinium studies.  The internal carotid artery was well demonstrated within the cavernous sinuses.  Pse. explain how big is this tumour.  What is the best treatment option.  Regards, SHENAAZ


This discussion is related to Acromegaly My MRI results Please tell me what you think.

[SHENAAZ]

Hi.  Hope you keeping well.  Need advice once again.  My husband's newphew has meningioma which is on the left side of the brain.  The first op was done by the Neuro who did not remove the entire tumor.  It has now grown again and he is getting headaches and seizures.  They gave him medication for 1 year to shrink but to no avail.   Please advise.

[SHENAAZ]

Hi.  Its Professor R Gopal who is in Johannesburg, Gauteng.  Tel: [phone].  Good Luck and let me know what happens.  Regards.

[LollieP]

Hello Shenaaz

I'm currently considering having a pituitary surgery in South Africa, please can you share details of the surgeon who treated your husband?

I really look forward to hearing from you

[pdan]

Just type Pituitary Foundation into the Google search engine.

[SHENAAZ]

Hi thanks for your info.  I put my husband on herbal tablets (1 tab twice a day) which we get here in South Africa called Hormone Booster by Solal and its doing wonders to him.  Recently took T test and its gone up from 90 to 230.  What is also amazing all the other tests like cortisol etc., is all normal only the T was low.  Even prolactin was normal.  Dr did about 10 blood tests and all showed normal.  Pse. also give me the webiste address for Pituitary Foundation.  My husband has to do an MRI this month just to check for the tumor and the healing process.  Regards.

[pdan]

I was looking through your posts and the excellent responses you'd got. Of interest, how is your husband receiving testosterone replacement therapy? Is he having injections or rubbing a gel onto the skin daily? The gel method is preferred as it keeps a steady state, whereas the jabs cause ups and down in testosterone levels. Your husband is highly likely to be deficient in human growth hormone. It is one the the earliest hormones to fail. Inadequate levels cause significant medical and quality of life problems.
Internationally, there is a tendency, even amongst endocrinologists, dismiss low levels of testosterone in males. When I was 52 I was told my level was "normal". In fact it was the level of a 90 to 100 year old man. It was an early sign I had a pituitary tumour.
With regard to human growth hormone, many pituitary patients who require a lifetime treatment, just don't get the drug. It is taken by daily injection, rather like the insulin a diabetic takes. It can make a massive difference in health and quality of life. To test for deficiencies in human growth hormone and cortisol requires special tests which involve blood being taken over a period of hours.

I live in England. Here we have a charity called the Pituitary Foundation. It is an excellent source of factual information and it has a website.