A pituitary tumor is an abnormal growth in the pituitary gland, the part of the brain that regulates the body's balance of hormones.

The pituitary gland is a pea-sized endocrine gland located at the base of the brain. The pituitary regulates and controls the release of hormones from other endocrine glands, which in turn regulate many body processes. These hormones include:

• Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
• Growth hormone (GH)
• Prolactin
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

About 75% of pituitary tumors release hormones. When a tumor produces too much of one or more hormones, the following conditions may occur:

• Central hypothyroidism (excess thyroid-stimulating hormone)
• Cushing syndrome (excess adrenocorticotropic hormone)
• Gigantism or acromegaly (excess growth hormone)
• Prolactinoma (excess prolactin)

As the tumor grows, hormone-secreting cells of the pituitary may be damaged, causing hypopituitarism.

The causes of pituitary tumors are unknown, although some are a part of a hereditary disorder called multiple endocrine neoplasia I (MEN I).

There are other types of tumors that can be found in the same area of the head as a pituitary tumor:

• Craniopharyngiomas
• Cysts
• Germinomas
• Tumors that have spread from cancer in another part of the body (metastatic tumors)

About 15% of tumors in the skull are pituitary tumors. Most pituitary tumors are located in the anterior pituitary lobe and are usually noncancerous (benign).

Pituitary tumors develop in about 20% of people, although many of the tumors do not cause symptoms and the condition is never diagnosed during the person's lifetime.

Symptoms associated with pituitary tumors include:

• Changes in weight
  • Weight gain (unintentional)
  • Weight loss (unintentional)
• Constipation
• Enlarged hands, feet
• Facial changes
  • Enlarged jaw, tongue, bones of the face
  • Moon face, puffy eyes
• Hair changes
  • Coarse, thin head hair
  • Loss of body hair
  • Thinning eyebrows
• Headache
• Lethargy
• Low blood pressure
• Nasal drainage
• Nausea and vomiting
• Personality changes
  • Decreased sexual interest
  • Irritability
• Problems with the sense of smell
• Seizures
• Skin changes
• Temperature sensitivity
  • Intolerance to cold
  • Intolerance to heat
• Visual changes
  • Double vision
  • Drooping eyelids
• Weakness

Symptoms only in women:

• Abnormal nipple discharge
• Stopping of menstruation
• Excessive body hair

Symptoms only in men:

• Breast development
• Impotence

Your health care provider will perform a physical examination and will note any problems with double vision and visual field, such as loss of peripheral vision or the ability to see in certain areas.

Endocrine function tests include:

• Cortisol levels:
  • Dexamethasone suppression test
  • Urine cortisol test
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels
• Insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels
• Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels
• Serum prolactin levels
• Testosterone/estradiol levels
• Thyroid hormone levels:
  • Free T4 test
  • TSH test

Tests that help confirm the diagnosis include the following:

• Formal visual field testing
• MRI of head

Pituitary tumors are usually not cancerous and therefore won't spread to other areas of the body. However, they can cause serious problems by putting pressure on important nerves and blood vessels.

Surgery to remove the tumor is often necessary, especially if the tumor is pressing on the optic nerves, which could cause blindness.

Most of the time, pituitary tumors can be removed through the nose and sinuses. However, some tumors cannot be removed this way and will require removal through the skull (transcranial).

Radiation therapy may be used to shrink the tumor, either in combination with surgery or for people who cannot undergo surgery.

The following medications may shrink certain types of tumors:

• Bromocriptine or cabergoline are the first-line therapy for tumors that release prolactin. These drugs decrease prolactin levels and shrink the tumor.
• Ocreotide or pegvisomant is sometimes used for tumors that release growth hormone, especially when surgery is unlikely to result in a cure.

The Pituitary Network Association -- www.pituitary.org

If the tumor can be surgically removed, the outlook is fair to good, depending upon whether the entire tumor is removed.

The most serious complication is blindness, which can occur if the optic nerve is seriously damaged.

Permanent hormonal imbalances may be caused by the tumor or its removal. This may require replacement of the affected hormones.

Call your health care provider if you develop any symptoms of a pituitary tumor.

Ezzat S, Asa SL, Couldwell WT, et al. The prevalence of pituitary adenomas. Cancer. 2004 Aug 1;101(3):613-9. Review.

Melmed S, Kleinberg D. Anterior Pituitary. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR. Kronenberg: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 8.