Some pituitary tumors are caused by high levels of hormones that regulate important body functions. Tumors of the pituitary gland can cause the pituitary gland to produce low levels of hormones.
Most pituitary tumors are non-cancerous (benign) growths (adenomas), so they develop in the pituitary gland or adjacent tissues and do not spread to other parts of the body.
There are many treatment options for pituitary tumors, including removing the tumor, controlling its growth, and regulating hormone levels with medication. The doctor may also recommend an observational approach.
What is the pituitary gland?
The pituitary gland is a small gland inside the skull, located below the brain and above the nasal passages. The pituitary gland is located in a small bony space called the Turkish saddle. Nearby are nerves connecting the eyes to the brain, called optic nerves.
The pituitary gland is directly connected to a component of the brain called the hypothalamus. This provides a key link between the brain and the endocrine system, a collection of hormone-producing glands. Hormones are substances released into the bloodstream that help organs function normally. The hypothalamus secretes hormones that reach the pituitary gland through the hypothalamic-pituitary system, causing the secretion of its own hormones in the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is considered the "main gland" because it produces hormones and controls the levels of hormones produced by most other endocrine glands in the body. The pituitary gland consists of two parts — anterior and posterior, each of which performs different functions.
Functional adenomas and dysfunctional adenomas
Pituitary adenomas are also classified according to how many hormones they produce, and when they do, what type of hormones they produce. The type of hormone released by an adenoma causes specific signs and symptoms. They also influence which tests are used for diagnosis, treatment options, and patient prognosis. If pituitary adenomas produce hormones, they are called functional (secretory). If they do not produce hormones, they are called non-functional (unclassifying).
Symptoms
Functional pituitary tumors can cause a number of signs and symptoms depending on the hormone they produce. The signs and symptoms of dysfunctional pituitary tumors are related to their growth and the pressure they exert on other structures.
Large tumors of the pituitary gland larger than 1 cm are known as macroadenomas. Small tumors, less than 1 cm, are called microadenomas. Due to the size of the macrodenomes, they can put pressure on the normal pituitary gland and nearby structures.
Signs and symptoms of pituitary tumor pressure may include:
Loss of vision, especially loss of peripheral vision (decreased visual field).
Cranial nerve paresis with palpebral ptosis (drooping eyelid) or diplopia (double vision).
Symptoms related to hormonal changes
Overproduction
Functional tumors of the pituitary gland can cause hormonal hypersecretion. Different types of functional pituitary tumors cause specific signs and symptoms, and sometimes a combination of both.
Deficit
Large tumors can cause hormonal deficiency due to the effect of the tumor mass on the normal pituitary tissue and the tract connecting to the hypothalamus. Signs and symptoms include:
nausea and vomiting;
weakness;
feeling of cold;
infrequent menstruation or amenorrhea;
sexual dysfunction;
unintentional weight loss or weight gain.
Prolactin-secreting tumors (prolactinomas)
Hypersecretion of prolactin by the pituitary gland can lead to a decrease in the level of sex hormones – estrogen in women and testosterone in men. Excess prolactin affects men and women in different ways.
In women, prolactinomas can cause:
irregular menstruation;
absence of menstruation;
breast discharge in the chest;
infertility.
In men, prolactin-producing tumors can cause male hypogonadism. Signs and symptoms may include:
erectile dysfunction;
low sperm count;
lack of libido;
breast enlargement (gynecomastia ) and breast secretion (galactorrhea).
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secreting tumors
When a pituitary tumor produces an excess of thyroid-stimulating hormone, the thyroid gland produces too much thyroxine. This is a rare cause of hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid gland.
When to go to the doctor
If you develop signs and symptoms that may be related to a pituitary tumor, seek counseling. Pituitary tumors can be treated to restore normal hormone levels and alleviate signs and symptoms.
Reasons
The reason for the uncontrolled growth of cells in the pituitary gland remains unknown. A small percentage of cases of pituitary tumors are inherited, but in most cases it is not a hereditary factor. However, researchers suspect that genetic changes play an important role in the development of pituitary tumors. Up-X platformunda ipuçları ve eğlenceli oyun