Evaluation and management of pituitary incidentalomas--revisiting an acquaintance

Abstract

Incidentalomas of the pituitary gland have been described with increasing frequency, paralleling the advances in diagnostic imaging modalities. Several approaches have been proposed in order to appropriately evaluate their impact on patients, some recommending extensive investigations, while others advocate a more focused and potentially more cost-effective approach. The first part of this article will review current data about the prevalence, natural history and potential morbidity associated with these tumors. The second part will focus on imaging and hormonal evaluation of the incidental mass and suggest an updated management algorithm.