Jody Leonardo, MD
(Source: Allegheny Health Network)
The center’s multidisciplinary team at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh treats everything from Cushing’s disease and acromegaly to prolactinomas and craniopharyngiomas to tumors and Rathke cysts. Patients can visit the center for physician consultations, diagnostic imaging, laboratory tests and treatments.
“This direct teamwork between physicians during a visit saves patients time, reduces their stress and expedites their treatment plan,” said AHN neurosurgeon Jody Leonardo, MD, co-director of the center. “In addition to new patients, we often see patients who have already had surgery elsewhere or who have been told by physicians that their condition cannot be treated.”
A referral to the AHN Pituitary Center includes consultations with AHN physicians from neurosurgery and endocrinology who discuss the various treatment options. The multidisciplinary care team also includes specialists from the fields of neuro-oncology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, radiation oncology and radiology.
During the initial examination, patients may undergo endocrinological laboratory tests to determine pituitary function, an eye examination with special attention to the visual field, a neurosurgical consultation and, if a tumor needs to be removed, an ENT examination.
“Pituitary tumors require individualized treatment by multiple specialists,” said Dr. Leonardo. “During the first appointment with a patient, we take sufficient time to discuss all treatment options available to them.”
Tumor symptoms that may occur in patients
Dr. Leonardo explained that not all pituitary tumors cause symptoms. The first sign of a tumor usually depends on whether the tumor is functional, producing too many hormones, or nonfunctional, producing no hormones.
Symptoms may include fatigue, nausea, weakness, unexplained weight loss or weight gain, feeling cold, and blurred vision or loss of vision. More advanced symptoms include excessive growth of the hands, face, and feet, changes in skin and body fat distribution, abnormal breast milk production, and changes in the menstrual cycle.
The latest developments in tumor treatment
AHN surgeons often perform biopsies and removals of pituitary tumors endoscopically, gaining direct access to the pituitary gland via the nose and sinuses.
“Endoscopic endonasal surgery offers patients less postoperative discomfort, fewer complications and a shorter recovery time,” said Dr. Leonardo.
Other therapies include microscopic surgery, minimally invasive keyhole or standard craniotomy, medical therapies that block tumor hormone production and shrink certain tumors, and Gamma Knife® stereotactic radiosurgery
“Sometimes we use a combination of treatments. For example, surgery can remove part of the tumor, while medications can relieve symptoms and sometimes shrink the remaining tumor,” said Dr. Leonardo. “That’s why each patient at our center receives extremely individualized care and treatment.”
To make a referral to the center or for more information, call 412-359-8246.
Gamma Knife® is a registered trademark of Elekta and is used with permission.
