Pituitary Tumors
Table of Contents
Authors:
What is a Pituitary Tumor?
A pituitary tumor is a tumor growth on a patient’s pituitary gland, which is the gland that produces many of the body’s hormones. An individual with a pituitary tumor may experience symptoms either because the tumor itself presses on the brain and/or visual center or because it may produce excess hormones. Medications can sometimes be a treatment option for pituitary tumors, while other cases may require surgical removal and/or stereotactic radiosurgery at a Gamma Knife center. Many patients benefit from a combination approach, which a doctor may recommend.
What Causes a Pituitary Tumor?
Most pituitary tumors are noncancerous and may never cause symptoms or be diagnosed. However, some people may have tumors that produce more than the normal amount of hormones, which triggers endocrine symptoms – lesions called “secreting.” Some tumors grow large enough to compress the brain’s visual center, and doctors often discover them due to visual-related symptoms. Pituitary tumors can occur at any age and to anyone. Older adults and people who have a family history of certain hereditary conditions, including multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN I), have a greater risk of developing pituitary tumors.
What are the Symptoms of a Pituitary Tumor?
Symptoms of pituitary tumors can vary, depending on whether a tumor produces too much of a hormone or if symptoms stem from damage or pressure caused by the tumor’s size. Tumors that make too much of one or more hormones can cause:
- Cushing’s syndrome: acne, bone pain, excessive hair growth in women, rounded face and upper body obesity
- Gigantism: excessive growth, headaches and large hands and feet
- Hyperthyroidism: concentration problems, fatigue, increased appetite and weight loss
- Nipple discharge
Large tumors that put pressure on the pituitary gland and surrounding structures may trigger:
- Headaches
- Lethargy
- Nasal drainage
- Nausea and vomiting
- Problems smelling
- Vision problems
How are Pituitary Tumors Diagnosed?
If a doctor suspects a pituitary tumor, he may order diagnostic imaging. These tests include computed tomography scans (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI.) Doctors may discover the pituitary tumor incidentally if a patient undergoes these tests for another condition.
Treatment for Pituitary Tumors
Treatment depends on which cell type is in excess and if the endocrine system is affected. Potential pituitary tumor treatment options include:
- Monitoring: For small, asymptomatic tumors, the doctor may opt to “watch and wait.”
- Medication: This may shrink the tumor or counter hormone effects of secreting tumors.
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery: Targeted radiation therapy using a system like Leksell Gamma Knife®Icon™ shrinks the tumor and spares healthy tissue.
- Pituitary Tumor Surgery: This surgery removes all or part of the tumor.
Authors:
William Cobb, MD, PhD, FAANS
Dr. William Cobb is a board-certified neurosurgeon that specializes in Neurosurgery, Neuro-Oncology, brain and spine tumor treatment, as well as Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. He is the Director of Neurosurgical Oncology at The Valley Hospital. Dr. Cobb is experienced in treating patients with many types of brain tumors, as well as trigeminal neuralgia and brain metasteses.
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