Guide To Treating Pituitary Tumors

Somatostatin Analogs

Pituitary tumors can sometimes cause the body to make too many hormones rather than too few. Some pituitary tumors can trigger a set of symptoms referred to as carcinoid syndrome. Somatostatin analogs are sometimes used to treat this syndrome. The bowel, pancreas, stomach, and hypothalamus naturally make somatostatin. It can stop or slow the body's production of insulin and some gut hormones. This substance is also necessary to empty the bowel and stomach.

Somatostatin analogs are artificial versions of this substance. When patients take them, they help slow the body's production of serotonin and growth hormone. This controls diarrhea, skin flushing, and other carcinoid syndrome symptoms. In addition, it can sometimes help shrink the original tumor. Somatostatin analogs are usually administered as an injection, with one injection occurring every four weeks. A nurse usually administers the injection, though some doctors may show patients how to administer their own.

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