Pain relief and pituitary function following injection of alcohol into the pituitary fossa.

Eleven patients were investigated for pituitary function after the injection of alcohol into the pituitary fossa; all had persistent pain and 8 had carcinoma of the breast. Most of the patients showed varying degrees of reduction of pituitary activity; 8 patients obtained significant pain relief and 3 patients exhibited polyuria. These 3 observations could not be completely correlated; the possible mechanisms which may lead to pain suppression by this method are discussed.