Pituitary Ablation in the Relief of Pain in Advanced Prostatic Carcinoma

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Abstract
Summary— Fifty‐five patients with diffuse pain due to bone metastases from prostate carcinoma were treated by pituitary ablation (53 with intrasellar Yttrium90 and 2 with intrapituitary alcohol instillation). The provisional criteria of the British Prostate Group were used to assess results. Post‐operatively, 44 patients (80%) were significantly free of pain and 12 of them were completely pain‐free. In only 11 cases (20%) was there no relief of pain. Of the 39 patients who required narcotics before ablation, only 12 required them post‐operatively. Pituitary ablation with Yttrium90 has an important place in the relief of pain in advanced carcinoma of the prostate, although survival is not increased.