Pituitary fossa injection with alcohol for widespread cancer pain.

Trans-sphenoidal injection of 95 percent dehydrated alcohol into the pituitary fossa was attempted in 10 patients to control pain associated with widely disseminated metastatic cancer. Significant pain relief was obtained in eight patients, some of whom had tumours not recognised as being hormone sensitive. Effects of pituitary destruction were easily managed, and there were few complications. There was no mortality directly attributable to the injection.