Confused about the treatment cost of a pituitary gland tumour? When faced with a pituitary gland tumour diagnosis, one of the key considerations for patients and families is the cost of treatment. The management of pituitary tumours can be complicated and frequently involves a mix of medication, radiation therapy, and surgery.
Several variables, including the type of treatment required, the patient insurance coverage, and the location of care, can significantly impact the cost of treating a pituitary tumour. This guide will examine the potential costs of treating a pituitary gland tumour, including factors that influence treatment costs and recommendations for managing medical bills.
Pituitary Gland Conditions & Treatment Options
There are various conditions related to pituitary gland tumours, such as it can pituitary adenoma, functioning or non-functioning pituitary adenoma, pituitary carcinoma, etc. Other conditions are Acromegaly, Cushing’s disease, Prolactinomas, Non-Functioning Tumours, mental state, Hypopituitarism, and Diabetes Insipidus.
The treatment options for pituitary gland tumours include:
- Surgery (Transsphenoidal surgery, Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery and Craniotomy)
- Chemotherapy (Systemic Chemotherapy and Regional chemotherapy)
- Radiation Therapy (Fractionated radiation therapy and Stereotactic radiosurgery)
- Hormonal Replacement Therapy
- Drug therapy/Medications
Pituitary Gland Tumour Treatment Cost
The average treatment cost for a pituitary tumour ranges between Rs. 3,00,000 to Rs. 8,00,000. Various parameters affect the treatment cost, including hospital choice, surgeon’s fee, treatment method, diagnostic tests, length of hospital stay, and post-operative care. The pituitary tumour surgery cost in India ranges from Rs. 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 wherein the pituitary adenoma surgery costs around Rs. 2,00,000 to Rs. 2,50,000 and the pituitary carcinoma surgery costs around Rs. 2,50,000 to 4,00,000.
Treatment Cost of Different Types of Pituitary Tumours
| Type of Pituitary Gland Tumour | Average Pituitary Gland Tumour Treatment Cost in India (in INR) (For Domestic Patients) | Average Pituitary Gland Tumour Treatment Cost in India (in USD) (For International Patients) |
| Functioning Pituitary Adenoma | ₹3,00,000 – ₹6,00,000 | $6,500 – $7500 |
| Non-functioning Pituitary Adenoma | ₹2,50,000 – ₹5,00,000 | $6,500 – $7500 |
| Invasive Pituitary Adenomas | ₹3,00,000 – ₹8,00,000 | $6,500 – $8000 |
| Pituitary Carcinoma | ₹6,00,000 – ₹10,00,000 | $7,500 – $8500 |
Pituitary Tumour Treatment Expenses – Cost Breakdown
| Pituitary Gland Tumour Expenses in India | Approximate Cost (in INR) |
| Consultation Charges | |
| Initial Consultation | ₹500 – ₹2,000 |
| Diagnostic and Imaging Tests | |
| Blood and urine test | ₹1,000 – ₹3,000 |
| CT scans | ₹3,000 – ₹8,000 |
| MRI of the pituitary | ₹6,000 – ₹15,000 |
| Eye exam and Visual field exam | ₹500 – ₹2,000 |
| Biopsy | ₹5,000 – ₹15,000 |
| Neurological exam | ₹500 – ₹1,500 |
| High-dose dexamethasone suppression test | ₹2,000 – ₹5,000 |
| Low-dose dexamethasone suppression test | ₹2,000 – ₹5,000 |
| Venous sampling for pituitary tumours | ₹15,000 – ₹30,000 |
| Laboratory tests, such as Immunohistochemistry, Immunocytochemistry and Light and electron microscopy | ₹10,000 – ₹30,000 |
| Surgery Cost | |
| Transsphenoidal surgery | ₹80,000 – ₹2,00,000 |
| Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery | ₹1,00,000 – ₹2,50,000 |
| Craniotomy | ₹1,50,000 – ₹3,50,000 |
| Chemotherapy | |
| Systemic Chemotherapy | ₹20,000 – ₹1,00,000 (Highly variable depending on the drug regimen, cycles required) |
| Regional chemotherapy | ₹30,000 – ₹1,50,000 |
| Radiation Therapy | |
| Fractionated radiation therapy | ₹50,000 – ₹1,50,000 |
| Stereotactic radiosurgery | ₹1,50,000 – ₹3,00,000 (varies depending on the technique being used) |
| Hormone Replacement Therapy | |
| HRT | ₹10,000 – ₹50,000 (per month) |
| Drug therapy | |
| Medications | ₹2,000 – ₹50,000 /month (This varies drastically depending on the specific medications required (e.g., hormone replacement, dopamine agonists, etc.). Some long-acting injections can be quite costly. |
| Post-Surgery | |
| Post-operative care | ₹10,000 – ₹50,000 |
| Follow-up consultations | ₹500 – ₹1,500 per visit |
Note: Hospital stay charges vary significantly and depend on the patient’s health condition, the chosen hospital, and the duration of treatment and stay.
Pituitary Tumour Treatment Estimated Cost Across India
| City | Cost of Pituitary Gland Tumour Treatment in INR | Cost of Pituitary Gland Tumour Treatment in USD |
| Delhi / NCR | ₹3,00,000 – ₹6,00,000 | $4,500 – $7,000 |
| Mumbai | ₹3,50,000 – ₹7,00,000 | $4,200 – $8,500 |
| Kolkata | ₹2,00,000 – ₹4,50,000 | $3,000 – $5,400 |
| Bangalore | ₹2,50,000 – ₹6,50,000 | $4,000 – $7,800 |
| Ahmedabad | ₹2,50,000 – ₹5,00,000 | $3,000 – $6,000 |
| Chennai | ₹2,50,000 – ₹6,00,000 | $3,000 – $7,000 |
| Pune | ₹2,50,000 – ₹5,50,000 | $3,500 – $6,000 |
| Hyderabad | ₹2,00,000 – ₹5,80,000 | $3,000 – $6,000 |
Pituitary Tumour Treatment Cost Comparison Among Countries
| Countries | Cost of Pituitary Gland Tumour Treatment |
| India | ₹400,000 – ₹800,000 |
| USA | $6500 – $8000 |
| UK | £50,000 – £150,000 |
| Germany | €40,000 – €120,000 |
| Nigeria | ₦5,000,000 – ₦25,000,000 |
| Kenya | KES 1,500,000 – KES 7,000,000 |
| Ghana | GH₵ 30,000 – GH₵ 150,000 |
| Turkey | ₺350,000 – ₺,450,000 |
| South Korea | ₩30,000,000 – ₩120,000,000 |
| Japan | ¥5,000,000 – ¥20,000,000 |
| Thailand | ฿800,000 – ฿3,000,000 |
Additional Cost
The following conditions solely depending on patient’s health condition can lead to additional expense in the treatment of pituitary tumours:
- Unforeseen Complications: ₹10,000- ₹50,000
- Post-operative palliative care: ₹10,000 – ₹30,000
- Post-treatment nutrition and therapy sessions: ₹5,000 – ₹15,000
- Mental health counselling sessions: ₹5,000 – ₹10,000
- Post-operative recovery period: ₹10,000- ₹40,000
- Follow-up visits and imaging tests: ₹5,000 – ₹20,000
Factors Affecting Treatment Cost
Diagnosis: Depending on the patient’s health condition and medical history, the doctor prescribes the test to determine the location, size, and type of tumour and create an effective treatment plan accordingly. The tests are primarily used to diagnose the tumour, and later, they are performed to determine the nature and type of the tumour, allowing for the planning of the treatment line.
Treatment Type:
- Surgery Costs: Expenses to be considered in the surgery costs include Surgeon’s fees, Anesthesiologist’s fees, Operating room charges, Hospital stay (duration and type of room), post-operative care (medications, follow-up visits), and Potential complications and their associated costs. According to an NCBI article, the endoscopic transsphenoidal approach is comparatively less expensive than the microscopic transsphenoidal approach.
- Medication Costs: These are ongoing expenses during treatment and account for a significant portion of the overall treatment cost. These include medicine costs. Generic medicines significantly lower the overall treatment cost, as they are available at a much lower price compared to branded drugs. Additionally, the medications required for managing potential side effects contribute to the overall cost.
- Radiation Therapy Costs: Additionally, these include expenses related to treatment planning, follow-up care, and management of potential long-term side effects.
Complexity of Case: The cost of treatment varies depending on the patient’s health condition, medical history, stage of cancer, type of tumour, and other factors. Generally, more complex cases tend to be more expensive. Because they require an advanced treatment plan involving a combination of surgery, therapy and medications. Additionally, complex cases often require more time for treatment.
Location: Treatment costs vary significantly by geographic region and the specific healthcare facility chosen. Hospitals in metropolitan areas tend to be more expensive than those in non-metropolitan areas. Still, multispecialty healthcare facilities required for pituitary gland tumour treatment may not be available at every location or in every outpatient facility. Hence, it is essential to carefully consider the options before undergoing any treatment.
Insurance Coverage: Insurance also plays a significant role in determining the cost of treatment. There are various health insurance plans, and the type of policy a patient is insured with determines the coverage.
Hospital Choice: The type of hospital has a significant impact on treatment costs. Different healthcare providers have different treatment price structures. Private hospitals are multispecialty and have advanced facilities and therapy options, and hence are more expensive compared to academic medical centres and community hospitals. A pituitary gland tumour requires a team of specialised doctors, including a medical oncologist, surgical oncologist, endocrinologist, anesthesiologist, nutrition expert, physiotherapist, and other medical staff. Therefore, it is highly recommended to select a multi-speciality hospital.
Regular hospitals or academic health centres may not have every specialist required for treatment, so there is a high possibility that the team may outsource a healthcare specialist, which will increase the surgery and post-operative treatment costs.
Individual Health Factors: Pre-existing medical conditions can impact the treatment plan and recovery time, potentially increasing the cost. The health and lifestyle of an individual also add to the treatment cost.
Tips for Managing the Cost of Pituitary Tumour Treatment
- Check your insurance and seek financial assistance
- Seek a second opinion
- Negotiate bills and go with payment plans
- Consider enrolling in clinical trials
- Go for generic medications
- Thoughtfully choose the healthcare facility for treatment
- Keep a record of your treatment and medical bills
- Follow your treatment and medicine schedule
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Hospital or a Doctor
The following are the factors to consider when choosing a hospital or a doctor:
- Neurosurgeon’s Experience
- Endocrinologist’s Expertise
- Technology and Facilities
- Multidisciplinary Team
- Patient Reviews and Testimonials
- Location and Accessibility
- Cost estimates
- Accreditation
If you or someone you know is undergoing treatment for a pituitary tumour or looking for it, be proactive about understanding your insurance coverage, exploring financial assistance options, and discussing all available treatment paths with your healthcare team to ensure that you receive the best possible care at a manageable cost. The cost of treating a pituitary gland tumour can be high, but it’s essential to keep in mind that many factors contribute to the total price, and there are a number of strategies that can help you manage the financial burden.
At Cancer Rounds, we understand the emotional and financial challenges that come with a pituitary tumour diagnosis.
If you have any questions and are concerned about treatment and its cost, please connect with us to access our expert oncologist network and receive comprehensive assistance with treatment planning, second opinions, hospital tie-ups, transparent pricing, and financial guidance.
We assist in providing the expert, personalised care while making treatment more accessible and cost-effective for patients and families. With Cancer Rounds, you’re not just getting care—you’re getting the right care at the right price with full support throughout your journey.
