A pituitary tumor can affect the body by disrupting the normal activities of the pituitary gland and creating imbalances in the hormonal system. Known as functioning tumors, some pituitary tumors even produce hormones themselves. Physical affects of these tumors can include a build up of fatty tissue around their abdomen and upper back, thinning skin and teeth that do not line up normally. As pituitary tumors grow, they can also press on important nerves, arteries and veins. If a tumor creates too much pressure on the optic nerve, a person may even lose their sight.
Pituitary Tumor
Pituitary tumors interfere with our bodys ability to produce hormones that helps us grow, regulate our sugar levels and control our body temperature.
Scientists call the pituitary gland the master endocrine gland because it produces hormones that regulate other organs and many of our body functions. When tumors form, they cause the pituitary gland to make excessive or deficient amounts of certain hormones such as thyroid-stimulating hormone, which regulates our heart rate.
Typically slow growing, pituitary tumors are rarely cancerous but can still spread to other parts of the body. Because of the gland's location in the center of the brain, doctors must surgically remove these tumors to relieve brain pressure. You may also need medications to return your hormones back to normal.
Early detection is the key to success. See your doctor if you have unexplained weight loss, blurry vision, sexual dysfunction, irregular heart beat or muscle weakness.
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Portsmouth Regional Hospital answeredSee All 4 AnswersPituitary tumors are common, although there is some debate about how common they are. One large study estimated that 17 out of 100 people have one. However, the vast majority of these growths are benign, meaning that they not cancerous. Also, many people never experience any symptoms and therefore never receive a diagnosis for their tumor unless it is done posthumously. -
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A pituitary adenoma is a group of cells that do not obey the normal signals from the body to limit their division and expand in number, compressing normal pituitary cells and adjacent structures near the pituitary gland over time. -
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See All 3 AnswersThe two main surgical techniques for removing pituitary tumors are transnasal transphenoidal adenomectomy and transcranial adenomectomy. The transnasal transphenoidal is the preferred surgical management for the majority of pituitary tumors. The tumor is removed via the nose and sinuses with no external incision. If the tumor has invaded nearby nerves, brain tissue and/or surrounding structures, or if it is large, removal by transphenoidal may prove difficult. Thus, the neurosurgeon may choose to perform a transcranial hypophysectomy in which the more complicated tumor is removed through the upper part of the skull by way of an incision in the patient's scalp. At times, a combination of surgical approaches is employed. -
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Portsmouth Regional Hospital answeredSee All 2 Answers
If diagnosed early enough, the prognosis for a pituitary tumor is usually excellent. If diagnosis is delayed, even a nonfunctioning tumor can cause problems if it grows large enough to press on optic nerves, the brain, or carotid arteries (vessels that bring blood to the brain). Early diagnosis and treatment is the key to a good prognosis.
This answer is based on source information from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
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Portsmouth Regional Hospital answeredSee All 2 Answers
A pituitary tumor will not go away without treatment. However,many pituitary tumors never cause symptoms and will go undetected throughout a person's entire life. Additionally,certain kinds of functional pituitary tumors can be destroyed with medication only and never require surgery.
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See All 2 AnswersPituitary tumors are almost always benign. It's very rare for people to have pituitary carcinoma, which is cancer of the pituitary gland. But if the pituitary tumor is secreting certain hormones, it can cause problems in your body that can lead to serious consequences, including vision loss. Even though the tumor itself behaves benignly, the hormones it produces can be serious. -
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Patients consistently and inexplicably suffering from three or more of the following symptoms should be examined for a pituitary tumor: aching joints, carpal tunnel syndrome, disrupted menses, depression, early menopause, easy bruising, fatigue, growth problems, headache, inappropriate lactation, infertility, muscle weakness, obesity, osteoporosis, vision problems.
Diagnosis of pituitary disease is often problematical because it is often confused with the symptoms, not the primary source of the symptoms.
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Portsmouth Regional Hospital answeredSee All 2 Answers
Scientists are not sure what causes a pituitary tumor. However, sometimes these abnormal growths form as part of the inherited genetic disorder multiple endocrine neoplasia I. While the causes of most pituitary tumors remain unknown, researchers are leaning towards some sort of genetic mutation as a possible reason for these growths.
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Portsmouth Regional Hospital answeredSee All 4 Answers
A pituitary tumor is an abnormal growth found in your pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is a very small endocrine gland that oversees your body's hormonal system. It is found at the base of a person's brain. A pituitary tumor can alter the balance of the hormonal system. With such tumors, the pituitary gland will often either produce an excess amount of particular hormones or produce a decreased amount of hormones.