Explore This Center

Overview

The Massachusetts General Hospital Neuroendocrine & Pituitary Tumor Clinical Center provides a multidisciplinary approach to patients with pituitary and hypothalamic disorders. Comprised of endocrinologists, neurologists, and neurosurgeons, the Neuroendocrine & Pituitary Tumor Clinical Center is a national referral center for the evaluation and treatment of pituitary tumors, recurrent pituitary adenomas, and tumors or disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary region.

The center is ideally suited for the referral of patients with pituitary tumors, including prolactinomas, Cushing's disease, acromegaly, nonfunctioning pituitary tumors, recurrent pituitary adenomas and pituitary and hypothalamic disorders which lead to adrenal, thyroid, ovarian or testicular deficiency. Patients can be referred for the development of a treatment plan in conjunction with their primary physician, for a second opinion, or for ongoing management by the center physicians.

Diagnosis

The Neuroendocrine and Pituitary Tumor Clinical Center offers detailed outpatient evaluation of all disorders affecting the endocrine function of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, achieved through comprehensive office visits, complete basal and dynamic hormone testing, and coordination of radiological studies and visual field evaluations. Patients are presented at the weekly Neuroendocrine Clinical Conference which is attended by endocrinologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, and radiation therapy physicians. A diagnostic and therapeutic plan is formulated for each patient and provided to the referring physician.

Special Expertise

Areas in which the Neuroendocrine and Pituitary Tumor Clinical Center provides special multidisciplinary expertise include:


Pituitary Tumors

  • Prolactinomas
  • Cushing's disease
  • Acromegaly
  • Non-functioning tumors
  • Recurrent pituitary adenomas
  • Thyrotroph adenomas

Prolactin Disorders

  • Amenorrhea-Galactorrhea Syndrome
  • Drug-induced hyperprolactinemia
  • Infertility
  • Male hypogonadism

Cushing's Disease

  • Pituitary Cushing's
  • Ectopic Cushing's
  • Adrenal Cushing's
  • Iatrogenic Cushing's
  • Recurrent Cushing's

Hypopituitarism

  • Hypoadrenalism
  • Hypogonadism
  • Hypothyroidism (central)
  • Growth hormone deficiency

Posterior Pituitary Dysfunction

  • Diabetes insipidus
  • Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion

Hormone Dependent Neurologic Disorders

  • Headaches
  • Sellar Masses
  • Meningiomas
  • Craniopharyngiomas
  • Hypophysitis and other inflammatory disorders
  • CNS Sarcoid
  • Germinomas
  • Other sellar lesions

Stereotactic Proton Radiosurgery

The Neuroendocrine and Pituitary Tumor Clinical Center offers Stereotactic Proton Radiosurgery, an innovative program utilizing proton beam therapy and conventional radiation therapy, for treatment of pituitary lesions.  Our laser-guided MR imaged stereotactic intrasellar tumor localization can be used for selected patients with untreated pituitary tumors, incomplete surgical resection, or tumor recurrence.

Physicians' Pituitary Information Service

Physicians with questions may contact Beverly Biller, MD at 617-726-3965 or 888-429-6863 or via email.

About This Program

The Massachusetts General Hospital Neuroendocrine and Pituitary Tumor Clinical Center is a national referral center for patients with neuroendocrine disorders and conditions including evaluation and treatment of pituitary tumors, recurrent pituitary adenomas, and tumors or disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary region.

We are situated within a large general hospital with a closely affiliated pediatric endocrinology program, as well as world renowned medical, surgical and subspecialty divisions. Our patients are followed through the course of treatment in a longitudinal fashion for ongoing management of their condition. Additionally, patients can be referred for the development of a treatment plan in conjunction with their primary physician or for a second endocrine opinion.

Conditions Commonly Managed

The Neuroendocrine and Pituitary Tumor Clinical Center is a national referral center ideally suited for patients with pituitary tumors including:

  • Prolactinomas
  • Cushing's disease
  • Acromegaly
  • Nonfunctioning pituitary tumors
  • Thyrotroph adenomas
  • Recurrent pituitary adenomas
  • Pituitary & hypothalamic disorders which lead to adrenal, thyroid, ovarian, testicular or growth hormone deficiency

Endocrinologists in the center are experienced in the chronic administration of replacement hormones and in the use of drugs which block hormone excess syndromes. They are experienced in the use of investigational drugs for the treatment of prolactin and growth hormone disorders. They have been at the forefront of medical therapy for pituitary disorders with the use of new dopamine agonists for prolactinomas and somatostatin analogues for acromegaly.

Neuroendocrine and Pituitary Tumor Clinical Center neurologists are available for the pharmacological treatment of headaches, seizures, and hypothalamic syndromes; and our clinical nurse offers patient education, including teaching self-administration of medications requiring injection for all patients.

Schedule an appointment at the Neuroendocrine and Pituitary Tumor Clinical Center by calling 617-726-7948.