Pituitary Gland Tumor

About 8,000 pituitary gland tumors are diagnosed in the United States each year. Most of these tumors are noncancerous. Because the pituitary gland is located next to the brain, this type of tumor is sometimes classified as a brain tumor in data collection. Pituitary gland tumors are more common in adults.

People with a tumor  located in the cerebellum, spinal cord and cauda equine (bundle of spinal nerves), cranial nerves, pituitary and pineal glands, and nasal cavity have higher survival rates. The ten-year survival rates (the percentage of people who survive at least five years after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases)  range from 60% to more than 90%.

Cancer survival statistics should be interpreted with caution. These estimates are based on data from thousands of people with this type of tumor in the United States, but the actual risk for a particular individual may differ. It is not possible to tell a person how long he or she will live with a pituitary gland tumor. Learn more about understanding statistics.

Source: American Cancer Society and the Central Brain Tumor Registration of the United States.