Gamma knife radiosurgery for pituitary adenomas.

Although surgical extirpation by transsphenoidal microsurgery is a major remedy for pituitary adenomas, adjuvant therapy also plays an important role in achieving tumor growth control and endocrine normalization in hormone-secreting tumors. Historically, the treatment options for pituitary adenomas included microsurgery, medical management, and fractionated radiotherapy, but radiosurgery has recently emerged as a practical treatment option. In this paper, we will describe the indications, radiosurgical procedure, results, histological change, and complications of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) for pituitary adenomas based on our experience since 1991 and a review of the literature.