General Information About Pituitary Tumors
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the slow multiplication of cells forming a lump (adenoma) in the main command center in the brain (the pituitary gland) that manages the entire body's hormone system, from thyroid to reproduction, and stress to growth.
Some of the tumors continuously pump hormones into the body. If they pump prolactin (milk hormone), it causes a Prolactinoma (cessation of periods/milk discharge from breasts); if they pump growth hormone, it causes Acromegaly (enlargement of hands/face); if they pump cortisol, it causes Cushing's syndrome.
Tumors that produce no hormones (non-functional) can grow silently and reach massive sizes. By pressing from below onto the optic nerve passing right above the pituitary gland, they cause headaches and, notably, darkening (blindness) in the far right and left edges of the visual field (like wearing blinders).
No, over 99% of pituitary tumors are benign adenomas. They do not have cancerous properties and do not spread to other parts of the body. The problems they create are solely related to their size and the hormones they secrete.
An endocrinologist measures the levels of thyroid, prolactin, growth, and cortisol hormones in the blood. Contrast-enhanced Pituitary MRI is used to clearly see the size of the tumor and its distance to the optic nerve.
Tumors that only produce the milk hormone (Prolactinomas) are usually treated completely with pills, shrinking them without surgery. Other hormone-producing or large tumors pressing on the optic nerve are removed using cameras inserted through the nostrils (Transsphenoidal Surgery) without opening the skull.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
