Role of gamma knife therapy in the management of pituitary tumors

Stereotactic radiosurgery with the Gamma Knife Unit allows delivery of focu sed radiation to a pituitary tumor in a single session, with little radiati on exposure to the surrounding, normal central nervous system (CNS). The ma jor role for Gamma Knife surgery is for the treatment of failed pituitary s urgery, although it can be used as a primary therapy for cases unsuitable, or unwilling, to undergo a transsphenoidal procedure. It may produce effect s on secretory pituitary adenomas faster than fractionated radiotherapy, wi thout the potential risk of developing secondary extrapituitary CNS tumors and the neuropsychiatric complications associated with the conventional for m of radiation delivery.