Pituitary Tumors
Pituitary tumors are abnormal growths that develop in or adjacent to your pituitary gland. Sometimes pituitary tumors can cause excessive production of hormones that regulate important functions of your body. Other times, pituitary tumors can restrict your pituitary gland, causing it to produce lower levels of hormones. Most pituitary tumors are noncancerous, non-spreading growths (adenomas). Adenomas remain confined to your pituitary gland or surrounding tissues and don't spread to other parts of your body.
Some symptoms that are seen from those with pituitary tumors are headaches, vision loss, watery nasal drainage, nausea and vomiting, hormonal changes, fatigue, weakness, cold intolerance, constipation, low blood pressure, body hair loss, sexual dysfunction, breast engorgement or discharge, and unintended weight loss or gain. Treatment for a pituitary tumor depends on your type of tumor, size, and location.
In general, most tumors do not need urgent surgical intervention. Surgery is indicated, however, if the tumor meets the following criteria:
- Hormone secreting tumors in which medical treatments by endocrinologists are deemed ineffective. This would include tumors causing acromegaly, aka gigantism, due to excessive secretion of growth hormone by the tumor and tumors causing Cushing’s disease due to excessive tumor production of adrenocorticotropic hormone. Some pituitary tumors can secrete excess prolactin and are called prolactinomas. However, these can often be treated non-operatively with medicines prescribed by endocrinologists called Parlodel (generic bromocriptine) and Dostinex (generic cabergoline). When these medicines do not adequately control the tumor’s excessive production of prolactin or if a patient cannot tolerate the medicines used to treat the prolactinoma, endoscopic pituitary surgery is a reasonable remaining option. Rarely, pituitary tumors can secrete excess amounts of other hormones normally produced by the pituitary gland for which surgery would also be indicated
- Tumors causing symptomatic compression of adjacent structures resulting in visual field loss, double vision, facial numbness, rhinorrhea, or hydrocephalus
- Tumors with documented growth over time putting the patient at risk for neurologic compromise including pituitary apoplexy.
To learn more about pituitary tumors and treatment options, contact us.