Pituitary and Skull Base Tumor Treatments, Diagnostics and Services
Pituitary and skull base tumors can affect your body in a variety of ways. That’s why we take a multispecialty approach to your care. At UW Medicine, we bring endocrinologists, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists, neuro-oncologists and neurosurgeons together under one roof to deliver the complete treatment you need. As your healthcare partner, we’ll work with you to customize your care plan.
Our dedicated experts provide advanced care to improve your quality of life. Whether you need medication, radiation or minimally invasive surgery, you can count on us for the leading-edge, innovative therapies that lead to your best outcome.
Endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal surgery (ETTS)
This minimally invasive, camera-guided surgery involves removing the pituitary tumor through the nose. To access the tumor, your surgeon removes the thin bone below the pituitary gland, allowing the tumor to be safely reached and removed with specialized instruments.
Gamma knife radiosurgery
This precise, noninvasive treatment uses many highly focused beams of radiation to target and destroy abnormal brain tumor tissue without making an incision. As a result, your tumor can be treated while minimizing impact on the surrounding healthy brain tissue.
Browse all pituitary and skull base tumor treatments, diagnostics and services
Chemotherapy
In the rare case that your pituitary or skull base tumor is cancerous, we can treat it with specific medications. Learn more about our neuro-oncology care.
Conformal radiation therapy
To treat cancerous tumors, this therapy uses advanced imaging to create a 3D model of your tumor. We use that model to precisely target radiation beams to attack tumor cells without hurting healthy tissue. Learn more about our neuro-oncology care.
Craniotomy
This procedure removes a small piece of your skull, making it easier for your surgeon to reach your pituitary tumor. After your tumor is removed, we replace your skull and secure it with titanium plates and screws.
Endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal surgery (ETTS)
This minimally invasive, camera-guided surgery involves removing the pituitary tumor through the nose. To access the tumor, your surgeon removes the thin bone below the pituitary gland, allowing the tumor to be safely reached and removed with specialized instruments.
Gamma knife radiosurgery
This precise, noninvasive treatment uses many highly focused beams of radiation to target and destroy abnormal brain tumor tissue without making an incision. As a result, your tumor can be treated while minimizing impact on the surrounding healthy brain tissue.
Hormone replacement therapy
Skull base tumors can cause your hormone levels to change. Hormone replacement therapy can help control or manage hormone levels that are too high or too low. This is guided by our multidisciplinary team of endocrinologists
Immunotherapy
These innovative therapies strengthen your immune system’s ability to fight back against your tumor. Immunotherapy is typically used to treat chordomas, chondrosarcomas and aggressive pituitary tumors.
Linear accelerator (LINAC)
This type of radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or electron beams to deliver precise treatment based on the shape of your tumor.
Proton beam therapy
This highly precise, noninvasive treatment uses proton particles to deliver radiation directly to tumors while minimizing damage to nearby healthy tissue. It is commonly used to treat chordomas, chondrosarcomas, and meningiomas. This therapy is provided at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center on the campus of UW Medicine Medical Center – Northwest. Fred Hutch is an independent organization that serves as UW Medicine's cancer program. Learn more about this treatment option.
Whole-brain radiation therapy
To treat cancer that has spread to the brain, we use this treatment to target your entire brain. This approach can treat multiple tumors or microscopic metastases. Learn more about brain cancer care.
Conditions we treat
We treat the full range of straightforward to complex pituitary and skull base tumors and nonsurgical conditions, including growth hormone-secreting tumors, meningiomas and more.
See all pituitary and skull base tumor conditions we treat »