Pituitary Tumor

• Functional Pituitary Tumor

• Non-functional Pituitary Tumor 

• Doctor’s Examination

• Laboratory Tests
• Genetic testing may be carried out.
• Blood and urine tests to check your hormonal level.
• Imagery Tests

• Surgery

• Radiation

1. Medication 

• Loss of vision
• Severe hormonal deficiency
• Sometimes pituitary apoplexy – occurs when bleeding suddenly happens in the tumor

Symptoms

SYMPTOMS 

Most symptoms don’t show and are discovered accidentally when checking for something else

Pituitary tumors can cause different symptoms due to the different hormones they produce and the level of the hormone in the body.

Symptoms due to hormonal deficiency include:

• Nausea 
• Weakness
• Little or no menstruation
• Sexual dysfunction
• Frequent urination
• Weight loss or gain
• Sensitivity to cold

Symptoms due to excess hormone include:

Cushing syndrome results from an increase in cortisol. Symptoms may be:

• High blood and sugar level
• Muscle weakness with thinning of arms and legs
• Accumulation of fat at the upper part of the body
• Bone weakening
• Acne and stretch marks
• Irritability and depression

Acromegaly due to excessive growth hormone. Its symptoms involve:

• Enlarged hands and feet
• Joint pains
• Teeth are misaligned
• High blood sugar
• Too much sweating
• Too much body hair

The increase of prolactin by the pituitary tumor affects sexual hormones such as estrogen in women and testosterone in men. It could still result in:

• Loss of sex drive  in men
• Erectile dysfunction in men
• Irregular menstruation in a woman 
• Milky discharge in women
• Low sperm count
• Growing of breast in men

The increase of the hormone thyroxine could lead to hyperthyroidism, hence, increasing metabolic rate which could lead to:

• Irregular heartbeat,
• A frequent bowel movement,
• Excessive sweating,
• Body shocks and shakings
• Anxiety
• Increase sensitivity to heat, etc.

Causes

CAUSES OF PITUITARY TUMOR

The cause of the pituitary tumor is not yet known although researchers suspect it could be a genetic mutation that could be responsible. Also, hereditary conditions such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1( MEN1)

FAQ

What problems can a pituitary tumor cause?

The pituitary tumor can cause various symptoms depending on if it is a functional tumor or a nonfunctional tumor. Such problems could include heart problems, joint pains, increased hair growth, abnormal loss or weight gain, increased blood sugar, etc

Is pituitary tumor survivable?

The rate of survival of pituitary tumors is high compared to other tumors since it is mostly noncancerous and the complication rate of its removal is less than 10%.

Is surgery always necessary?

Surgery is not always the only solution for the removal of the pituitary hormone. Radiation methods and medications could be employed to shrink the tumor and stop its growth.

What are the long term scenarios for patients after they have had treatment?

In most of the cases, they have been recorded many casualties recorded, nearly all return to healthy lives

Can pituitary tumors cause death?

Nonfunctional pituitary tumors may grow big and affect surrounding tissues and nerve, which may result in serious complications such as sudden loss of vision, loss of consciousness, and sometimes even death.