Diving and Acromegaly

[freediver]

Here is one for the resident expert. I have recently been diagnosed with Acromegaly and have a tumor on my pituitary gland. Surgery will be scheduled for the next week or earlier. My question is, of course, will this affect me diving? If so, to what degree and for how long. Unfortunately, the neurosurgeons that I consult with are not dive specialists so they are uncertain. i teach SCUBA and part of my livelihood depends on SCUBA so this is rather critical to me. Thanks,

 

[beche de mer]

Here is one for the resident expert. I have recently been diagnosed with Acromegaly and have a tumor on my pituitary gland. Surgery will be scheduled for the next week or earlier. My question is, of course, will this affect me diving? If so, to what degree and for how long. Unfortunately, the neurosurgeons that I consult with are not dive specialists so they are uncertain. i teach SCUBA and part of my livelihood depends on SCUBA so this is rather critical to me. Thanks,

This is indeed a highly specialised question freediver, and one which needs to be answered by a neurosurgeon/endocrinologist/dive physician, if such a creature exists.

I can only discuss it in general terms, but there are several issues.

Pituitary tumours are generally removed via the transphenoidal route, which essentially means up the nose and through the bridge of bone which separates the brain from the nasopharynx. So one issue is that the skull and protective membranes surrounding the brain will be breached. Complications can include persistent leakage of CSF (the fluid that surrounds the brain) and infection. So one aspect of your question is how soon after open neurosurgery can you return to diving. My answer, though I am no expert, would be a considerable number of months, if at all.

Another issue is that removal of a pituitary tumour often entails removal of part of the normal pituitary tissue. The pituitary gland produces a number of hormones which are essential in the regulation of metabolism. If you lose too much pituitary tissue you may need lifelong treatment with hormone supplements, and/or various medications.

Its a very complicated issue and you would need to discuss it at length with your physicians and surgeons. I don't want to sound pessimistic, but I wouldn't anticipate a rapid return to scuba diving.