Gamma knife surgery for sellar and suprasellar tumors.

Recent advances in neuroimaging, coupled with stereotactic delivery of ionizing radiation, permit precise, single-treatment irradiation of various intracranial tumors. This article describes the authors' experience with the 201-source 60Co gamma knife. Initial results indicate a potential therapeutic role for radiosurgery in controlling tumor growth and hormone hypersecretion in most patients. The authors believe that radiosurgery should be considered for small pituitary adenomas when prior microsurgery has failed to control tumor growth. Radiosurgery is a primary treatment alternative for patients who are elderly, medically infirm, or refuse microsurgical removal. Further follow-up is necessary to evaluate the long-term tumor control rate, hormonal effects, and tolerance of surrounding critical structures to stereotactic radiosurgery.