Role of gamma knife therapy in the management of pituitary tumors

Stereotactic radiosurgery with the Gamma Knife Unit allows delivery of focused radiation to a pituitary tumor in a single session, with little radiation exposure to the surrounding, normal central nervous system (CNS). The major role for Gamma Knife surgery is for the treatment of failed pituitary surgery, although it can be used as a primary therapy for cases unsuitable, or unwilling, to undergo a transsphenoidal procedure. It may produce effects on secretory pituitary adenomas faster than fractionated radiotherapy, without the potential risk of developing secondary extrapituitary CNS tumors and the neuropsychiatric complications associated with the conventional form of radiation delivery.