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Pituitary Tumor Program
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The Pituitary Tumor Program at UCLA is a multi-disciplinary team of health care professionals dedicated to providing state-of-the-art management of pituitary tumors. |
Diagnosis and treatment of pituitary tumors may require expertise in these fields:
- Medical management by a pituitary endocrinologist
- Expertise and experience with the most advanced minimally invasive neurosurgical techniques
- Sometimes specialized adjuvant therapies
UCLA has experts in each of these fields who work closely as a team to provide you the best possible care.
Advanced Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery
UCLA neurosurgeons use state-of-the-art endoscopic techniques, which allow our surgeons to safely, delicately, and effectively remove pituitary tumors.
This minimally-invasive approach minimizes discomfort, shortens the hospital stay, and leaves no visible scar on the face.
We use a teamwork approach, combining the experience and skill of an endoscopic sinus (Head and Neck) surgeon and a neurosurgeon specializing in pituitary tumors.
| This video will help you understand the endoscopic / endonasal approach for removal of pituitary tumors. |
Comprehensive Management
The Pituitary Tumor Program at UCLA offers state-of-the-art diagnostic evaluations and treatment of the following conditions:
- Pituitary Adenomas
- Pituitary failure (hypopituitarism) secondary to head trauma, pituitary tumors, intracranial surgery or radiation therapy
- Diabetes insipidus
- Nelson's syndrome
- Craniopharyngioma
- Rathke's cleft cyst
- Other suprasellar, hypothalamic and cavernous sinus lesions: arachnoid cysts, dermoids, gliomas, germinomas, meningiomas and lymphocytic hypophysitis.
Advanced Diagnostic Imaging
- Powerful 3_Tesla MRI scanners offer the best chance at visualizing small pituitary tumors
- Film reviews available
- World-class interventional neuroradiologists are experts in performing difficult venous blood sampling studies necessary for Cushing's disease
Pituitary Tumor Surgery
- UCLA neurosurgeons have extensive experience with all surgical techniques used for the removal of pituitary tumors
Radiation Therapy
- The Novalis Beam-Shaped System allows the precise delivery of powerful radiation to a pituitary tumor, typically leaving the surrounding tissue unaffected
Visual Testing
- The UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute can provide comprehensive ophthalmologic evaluations
Clinical Research Trials
Dr. Anthony Heaney is currently recruiting patients over age 18 for the following Clinical Research Trials:
1. Acromegaly
- Study comparing two doses of the new drug Pasireotide LAR to currently available drugs Sandostatin LAR and Somatuline Depot in patients with acromegaly. The study involves once-a-month injections of one of these three somatostatin analog drugs for 10 months.
2. Acromegaly
- Observational study monitoring the effects of Somavert (pegvisomant) in patients with acromegaly.
3. Cushing's disease
- Study comparing two doses of the new drug Pasireotide LAR in patients with Cushing's disease. The study involves once-a-month injections of the drug Pasireotide LAR for 12 months.
4. Cushing's disease
- Open Access Study of daily injections of the new drug Pasireotide in patients with Cushing's disease. The study involves daily injections of the drug Pasireotide until the drug becomes available on the market or the study is closed or a patient decides to stop taking the medication.
5. Carcinoid syndrome
- Study observing the effects of Somatuline Depot in the treatment of patients with carcinoid syndrome. The study involves once-a-month injections of the drug Somatuline Depot for 13 months.
6. Growth Hormone Deficiency
- Study looking at the effectiveness of a single injection of long-acting recombinant human growth hormone. The study involves a period of standard daily rhGH injections, followed by the administration of a single dose of the long-acting rhGH medication.
Ongoing Clinical Trials that are closed to enrollment include:
7. Acromegaly
- Study comparing the effectiveness of the somatostatin analog drugs Pasireotide LAR and Sandostatin LAR in patients with acromegaly. The study involves once-a-month injections of one of these two drugs.
8. Growth Hormone Deficiency
- Open label, single-arm study assessing immunogenicity of liquid formulation growth hormone in patients with documented Growth Hormone Deficiency. Study involves daily subcutaneous needle-free injections of recombinant human growth hormone in adults.
Please contact Brittany Sumerel, Clinical Research Coordinator, at 310-825-5874 if you would like more information.
Conferences, Educational Material, and Courses
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Pituitary Tumor Resources
