Pituitary Tumor
1. Disease Overview
Pituitary tumors originate in the pituitary gland, the pea-sized "master control center" sitting at the base of the brain. They are almost always benign, yet their hormonal and compressive effects can be profoundly disabling.
Most are discovered in patients aged 30–50, often after years of unexplained hormonal changes or progressive vision loss. China reports a large and growing patient volume, with deep expertise accumulated across high-volume pituitary surgery centers. At Fosun Health: "The more we treat, the more precisely we restore your hormones, your vision, and your face."
Every pituitary center has transsphenoidal surgery. Here is what makes ours different:
"Will they cut my face open? What if the tumor is small and I don't want any surgery at all? Is there a way to treat it without touching me?"
The challenge: Traditional pituitary surgery required facial incisions. Patients feared disfigurement, loss of smell, and CSF leak. But even modern endoscopic surgery—though scarless—still involves entering the skull base. Some patients are too frail for anesthesia, or simply prefer a completely non-invasive approach for a small tumor.
Our answer: Two scarless paths, chosen based on tumor size, type, and your preference:
• Fully endoscopic, transnasal approach: 4mm endoscope through the nasal cavity—no facial incision, no external scar. High-definition visualization. Discharge in 3–5 days.
• Robotic assistance for large/complex tumors: 3D magnification, tremor-free instruments, augmented navigation—sub-millimeter dissection around the cavernous sinus and carotid arteries.
• CSF leak prevention: Vascularized nasoseptal flap (Hadad-Bassagasteguy flap) achieves >95% watertight closure.
• For small non-functional adenomas: CyberKnife delivers 0.1mm sub-millimeter precision radiation in 1–3 sessions. The steep dose gradient treats the tumor while sparing the optic nerves, optic chiasm, and normal pituitary tissue. Long-term tumor control exceeds 90%. No incision. No anesthesia. No recovery ward.
• For functional microadenomas: In select prolactinoma, GH, or ACTH-secreting cases, CyberKnife can achieve biochemical remission without surgery or lifelong medication.
• For patients unfit for surgery: The ideal solution for elderly patients, those with severe comorbidities, or anyone who refuses surgery—curative-intent treatment through a mask, not a scalpel.
What this means for you: Whether you prefer the surgical removal (scarless through the nose) or the completely non-invasive radiation approach (CyberKnife through a thermoplastic mask), your face remains untouched. We match the method to your tumor and your comfort.
"My tumor has invaded the cavernous sinus and wrapped around the carotid artery. Two surgeons said it is inoperable. Is this the end?"
The challenge: Pituitary adenomas frequently extend laterally into the cavernous sinus, encasing the internal carotid artery. Aggressive surgical pursuit risks stroke, catastrophic hemorrhage, or cranial nerve palsies (double vision, drooping eyelid). Many patients are abandoned after incomplete debulking.
Our answer: Combined endoscopic decompression + CyberKnife radiosurgery for cavernous sinus extension:
• Safe Endoscopic Debulking： We perform deliberate, conservative endoscopic removal of the sellar and suprasellar tumor—relieving optic chiasm and brainstem pressure—while intentionally leaving the cavernous sinus component undissected from the carotid wall. No stroke risk. No cranial nerve injury.
• CyberKnife M6 for Cavernous Sinus Residual： Weeks later, 0.1mm sub-millimeter stereotactic radiosurgery converges on the cavernous sinus residual. The beam wraps around the carotid artery, treating the adenoma while the vessel wall receives a safe dose. Tumor control rates for cavernous sinus residual exceed 90%.
• DSA Vascular Mapping： Preoperative 3D-DSA and balloon test occlusion precisely define the degree of carotid encasement—guiding the surgical and radiosurgical boundary.
What this means for you: A tumor touching the carotid is not a death sentence for your treatment options. We remove what is safe, then precision-radiate what must be left behind—protecting your brain's blood supply and your eye movement nerves.
"My pituitary tumor has grown back after surgery. I cannot face another transsphenoidal operation. Is there a non-invasive alternative?"
The challenge: Residual or recurrent pituitary adenomas—whether functional or non-functional—often sit millimeters from the optic chiasm, hypothalamus, and internal carotid arteries. Re-operation carries higher risk of CSF leak, hypopituitarism, and vascular injury. Many patients suffer through years of hormonal imbalance rather than face a second surgery.
Our answer: CyberKnife M6 stereotactic radiosurgery as the definitive non-invasive salvage:
• For Residual/Recurrent Non-Functional Adenomas： CyberKnife delivers a highly focused ablative dose to the recurrent tumor—sparing the optic nerves, optic chiasm, and hypothalamus. Long-term tumor control rates rival or exceed re-operation, with virtually zero risk of CSF leak.
• For Functional Recurrences (Prolactinoma, GH, ACTH)： CyberKnife can achieve biochemical remission in carefully selected patients—normalizing prolactin, GH, or cortisol without further surgery or lifelong high-dose medication.
• For Patients Unfit for Surgery： Elderly patients, those with severe comorbidities, or patients who simply refuse further surgery receive curative-intent radiosurgery as their primary or salvage treatment—controlling tumor growth and hormonal overproduction without anesthesia.
• Pituitary Function Preservation： Dose-limiting to the remaining normal pituitary gland and hypothalamus minimizes the risk of post-radiation hypopituitarism—protecting the hormones that keep you alive.
What this means for you: Recurrence does not mean another date with the nasal approach. CyberKnife can eliminate the recurrent tumor, normalize your hormones, and spare you the risks of re-operation—without touching your nose.
"I have acromegaly and my hands are growing. Or my prolactin is sky-high and I cannot conceive. Or I have Cushing's and my body is falling apart. Is there a way to fix the hormones, not just cut the tumor?"
The challenge: Pituitary tumors are fundamentally endocrine diseases. Removing the tumor is only half the battle—restoring hormonal balance is the victory. Many centers excel at surgery but leave patients struggling with residual acromegaly, persistent hyperprolactinemia, or post-treatment hypopituitarism.
Our answer: True multidisciplinary endocrine mastery—surgery, drugs, radiation, and recovery in one continuum:
• Prolactinoma: Drugs First, Surgery/Radiation Selectively： Dopamine agonists (cabergoline/bromocriptine) are first-line. For drug-resistant or intolerant cases, we offer endoscopic resection or CyberKnife—not as defaults, but as precisely selected escalations.
• GH-Secreting Tumors: Multi-Modal Biochemical Control: Endoscopic resection + CyberKnife for residual + somatostatin analogues (lanreotide/octreotide) or GH receptor antagonist (pegvisomant) for persistent disease. Target: normalized IGF-1.
• ACTH-Secreting Tumors (Cushing's): The Full Algorithm: Selective endoscopic adenomectomy for visible tumors; CyberKnife for MRI-negative/dural-based ACTH microadenomas; bilateral adrenalectomy as last resort. Every step is a coordinated decision.
• Post-Treatment Hypopituitarism Management: Our endocrinology team provides lifelong, precision hormone replacement (hydrocortisone, levothyroxine, testosterone/estrogen, GH) with continuous monitoring—not a one-size-fits-all prescription.
• Integrative TCM: "Endocrine Rebalance": Evidence-informed herbal formulations support post-surgical hormonal recovery, reduce medication side effects, and manage symptoms of hormonal excess (insomnia, edema, metabolic disturbance) or deficiency (fatigue, cold intolerance, mood changes).
What this means for you: We do not just operate and discharge. We hunt the tumor, control the hormones, protect the remaining gland, and restore your body's equilibrium—guided by endocrinologists who manage thousands of pituitary patients annually.
For aggressive pituitary adenomas or pituitary carcinoma where standard options are exhausted, we provide rapid access to China's full portfolio of Phase III clinical trials—including novel targeted agents (temozolomide for aggressive variants, mTOR/EGFR inhibitors) and next-generation radiosurgery protocols—typically 3–5 years ahead of availability elsewhere. Every enrollment is ethics-approved with full medical supervision.
Our TCM program runs alongside your primary treatment as an "endocrine and neurological function optimizer":
• Toxicity Reduction： Herbal formulations help manage postoperative fatigue and hormonal fluctuations, reduce medication side effects, and support recovery of pituitary function after surgery or radiation.
• Efficacy Enhancement： Selected preparations may improve treatment tolerance and support neuroendocrine axis recovery.
The goal: restore your hormonal equilibrium, protect your vision and vitality, and keep you thriving long after the tumor is controlled.
Every pituitary case is reviewed by a panel comprising neurosurgery (endoscopic transsphenoidal), radiation oncology (CyberKnife SRS), endocrinology, neuro-ophthalmology, neuroradiology, and interventional neuroradiology (for vascular assessment). Pituitary decisions are uniquely complex: functional vs. non-functional; medical vs. surgical vs. radiosurgical primary therapy; extent of resection vs. carotid protection; and lifelong hormonal surveillance.
The MDT convenes within 48 hours. Your plan is a consensus decision optimized for your tumor size, hormonal profile, visual status, cavernous sinus involvement, and your priorities.
Diagnosis:
Aggressive Pituitary Adenoma
Treatment Plan:
A two-stage CyberKnife radiosurgical treatment strategy was designed. Through highly customized treatment planning, a high therapeutic radiation dose was delivered to the tumor while maintaining extremely low radiation exposure to the left optic nerve and optic chiasm, thereby preserving visual function.
Following the initial CyberKnife treatment, the patient received two doses of octreotide long-acting release (Sandostatin LAR).
Outcome:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed six months later demonstrated significant tumor shrinkage. Blood glucose, blood pressure, and growth hormone levels returned to near-normal ranges.
Visual function remained intact, headaches resolved completely, and the patient's overall well-being improved substantially.
The patient subsequently underwent the second-stage CyberKnife treatment without complications and was discharged in stable condition for continued follow-up.
Led by Dr. Yang Jun, Prof. Luo Pengfei, and Prof. Chen Tao, the Fosun Oncology Center brings together more than 20 world-class medical experts, each with over a decade of extensive oncology experience. Supported by a comprehensive range of advanced therapies — including robotic surgery, precision radiotherapy, minimally invasive intervention, CAR-T cell therapy, and Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) — the center delivers one-stop, integrated cancer care designed to make treatment more accessible, efficient, and high-quality for every patient.
Key Highlights
- Over 60,000 annual oncology patient admissions across Fosun’s major international hospitals in 2025
More than 17,000 cumulative TACE procedures completed between 2023 and 2025 at Fosun Hospital Guangzhou alone, with international patients accounting for over 10% of total cases
- More than 1,000 successful CyberKnife treatments performed, demonstrating world-class expertise in precision radiotherapy
- A 29.3% five-year survival rate achieved for Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) through combined TTFields therapy, representing a significant improvement over the 4.7% baseline
Core Services
- Robotic surgery
- Precision radiotherapy
- Minimally invasive intervention
- CAR-T cell therapy
- Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields)
- Medical oncology
- PET/CT imaging
- Pulmonary nodule diagnosis
- VIP inpatient wards
- Integrated oncology clinics
- Traditional Chinese medicine for oncology
- Cancer screening and early detection
- Genetic testing and counseling
Fosun & Fosun Health
Founded in 1992, Fosun has grown over the past three decades into a global innovation-driven consumer group. In 2007, Fosun International Limited was listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 00656.HK). As one of the few Chinese enterprises with strong global operational and investment capabilities, Fosun has developed substantial technological expertise and innovation capacity across multiple industries.
Established in 2010, Shanghai Fosun Health Technology is dedicated to building a world-renowned healthcare group in Asia. Today, the group operates 19 affiliated medical institutions across Foshan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shanghai, and other major cities, with a total of 6,600 hospital beds and 9 Internet Hospital licenses. Fosun Health ranks No. 1 among China’s private comprehensive medical groups. Its flagship institution, Fosun Foshan Chancheng Hospital, has ranked first among private hospitals in China for eight consecutive years and was honored with the 2026 Global Health Asia-Pacific “Oncological Medical Service Provider of the Year” award.
As the flagship hospital of Fosun Health, Fosun Foshan Chancheng Hospital was founded in 1958. The hospital currently hosts 28 key specialty development programs, including 2 provincial-level, 13 municipal-level, and 13 district-level key specialties. Its services span 22 medical disciplines, including spinal orthopedics, traditional Chinese medicine gynecology, obstetrics and gynecology, cardiovascular medicine, clinical laboratory medicine, anesthesiology, pediatrics, critical care medicine, ultrasound medicine, rehabilitation medicine, general practice, general surgery, and urology.
The hospital is equipped with globally advanced medical technologies, including the CyberKnife system and the Da Vinci Surgical Robot. It has 1,750 approved hospital beds and a multidisciplinary team of more than 2,800 medical professionals. The hospital records nearly 3.19 million outpatient visits annually and more than 67,000 inpatient discharges each year.
Fosun Foshan Chancheng Hospital has received numerous prestigious recognitions, including:
Global Health Asia-Pacific “Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of the Year”
Global Health China “Hospital of the Year”
No. 1 ranking on the GAHA Top 500 Private Hospitals in China list for eight consecutive years
The hospital has also been recognized as:
A National Model Unit for Improved Medical Services
A National Drug Clinical Trial Institution (GCP)
A National Standardized Residency Training Base
Established in 2003, Guangzhou Fosun Chancheng Hospital specializes in cardiovascular medicine, oncology, and neurosciences. The hospital has established a National Chest Pain Center, Stroke Center, Trauma Center, and MDT Center, supporting the development of emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, intensive care, anesthesiology, gastroenterology, general surgery, urology, and general practice.
The hospital operates more than 800 inpatient beds and 48 clinical and medical technology departments, supported by a team of over 880 healthcare professionals.
Guangzhou Fosun Chancheng Hospital has received several honors and industry recognitions, including:
EMBA Innovation Practice Base
Guangdong Private Medical Reform & Innovation Brand
Guangdong Private Medical Industry Pioneer Brand
Outstanding Brand Hospital for Medical Investment Contribution
Upload your pituitary MRI with contrast, full hormone panel results, visual field report, and prior surgical records if applicable. The Fosun Health Pituitary Tumor MDT Panel will conduct a comprehensive evaluation and deliver a personalized preliminary treatment plan—including endoscopic surgical candidacy, CyberKnike SRS options, and endocrine restoration strategy—within 48 hours.
