Pituitary incidentalomas

This article reviews the clinical epidemiology of incidentally discovered p ituitary masses. Management strategies are discussed in the framework of an swers to the following questions: (1) Does an incidental mass put the patie nt at increased risk for an adverse outcome? (2) Can individuals with treat able syndromes be accurately diagnosed? (3) Is the treatment of these syndr omes more effective in presymptomatic patients? (4) Do the beneficial effec ts of presymptomatic detection and treatment of these patients justify the costs that are incurred?