Hello, my name is Susana. My son, Joey, 14 years old, was diagnosed with having Absence Seizures due to Generalized Epilepsy after a near-drowning accident in August 2007.

A brain scan MRI also revealed a pituitary tumor. Joey's neurologist referred him to an endocrinologist who confirmed Joey has a pituitary adenoma.

The doctors will do another MRI for a re-check in four months, but say not to worry at this point. The endocrinologist said that if Joey's MRI were that of an adult, they'd have to begin treatment immediately, but because Joey is in puberty, we should wait for signs and symptoms (including gigantism, exaggerated cave-man-like facial features, enlarged hands, darkening of the skin, vision problems, increasing blindness, etc.). The doctor refused to continue naming symptoms so he wouldn't give Joey nightmares. He added that it's rare for the tumor to become a concern because it often goes away in adolescents. At this point, neither doctor thinks the tumor is related to the seizures.

Has anyone else with Epilepsy ever been diagnosed with a Pituitary Adenoma? Has anyone else heard of benign tumors "vanishing" during puberty?

I'm concerned about following the doctors' approach to just "wait and see" if and how the tumor develops. It may be rare for it to cause any harm, but I thought Epilepsy was rare, too.

Joey is adamant that he will never allow anyone to operate on his brain!

Any advice is appreciated.