Pituitary Tumors & Adenomas

Some pituitary tumors actually produce hormones and create disorders related to the over-stimulation of glands and organs controlled by these hormones. These “functioning” tumors are responsible for conditions including:

• Cushing’s syndrome (overproduction of cortisol)
• Acromegaly (excessive growth hormone)
• Prolactinoma & hypergonadism (decrease in sex hormones)
• Hyperthyroidism (too much thyroxine)

Other pituitary adenomas do not produce hormones, but their presence can damage the pituitary gland or exert pressure on nearby nerves and structures, leading to vision problems and lack-of-hormone disorders including:

• Double vision & loss of vision
• Headaches
• Too little growth hormone
• Hypothyroidism
• Lack of ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone)
• Too little prolactin

General symptoms of hormone disorders and pressure that may be caused by pituitary tumors include:

• Loss of peripheral vision
• Double vision
• Headaches
• Mood changes
• Lack of energy
• Irritability
• Hypertension
• Osteoporosis
• Menstrual cycle changes in women
• Impotence in men
• Infertility
• Abnormal breast growth
• Lactation difficulty
• Delayed growth in children
• Coarsening of features & enlargement of limbs
• Hormone levels that are too high or too low

Pituitary adenomas frequently cause no symptoms. When these tumors exert pressure on the pituitary gland or surrounding areas, patients may experience headaches, double vision or peripheral vision loss. Over- and underproduction of hormones may eventually lead to diagnosis of a disorder based on specific symptoms for that condition. Doctors also use blood tests and urine tests to check for abnormal hormone levels. Imaging tests like CT-scans and MRIs may also provide diagnostic information to determine treatment.