Question: Is an “incidental” pituitary mass common?
Answer: Yes. Pituitary incidentalomas (lesions found by chance on imaging done for another reason) are reported in MRI studies at roughly 10%.
Typical evaluation steps when a pituitary lesion is found on MRI:
- Hormone tests (over- or under-function)
- Visual assessment (especially visual fields)
- Follow-up imaging if needed (for size change)
- Treatment decision: observation / medication / surgery (depending on lesion type and effect)
“In selected cases, endoscopic/transsphenoidal approaches may be evaluated by the physician.”