Pituitary Gland Tumor: Symptoms of Pituitary Adenoma

Pituitary gland is an oval-shaped organ of the endocrine system that releases the hormones directly into the bloodstream rather than circulating with the help of ducts. Also referred to as hypophysis or master gland, this gland is located at the base of the brain. Pituitary gland resembles pea in size and weighs about 0.5 gram. Functionally, pituitary gland is indirectly responsible for maintaining the homeostasis. It secretes several hormones essential for the direct metabolic processes (growth, reproduction) and activates other glands for the hormone production.

The hormones produced by the pituitary gland include growth hormone (GH), prolactin, adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), antidiuretic hormone (ADH), Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Overall, pituitary gland is essential for the normal functioning of the human body. However, like any other organ system, the pituitary gland is susceptible to certain disorders, in which the most common problem is tumor growth or adenoma.

Symptoms of Pituitary Adenoma

The cells of the pituitary gland may show an abnormal growth, resulting in the pituitary gland tumor. This pituitary adenoma is commonly observed among the young and middle-aged adults. It is a benign disorder, that means the tumor does not spread to other organs. As of now, the actual causes of pituitary gland tumor are not known. Medical researches opined that both hereditary and environmental factors play a role in causing the pituitary gland tumor.

Pituitary adenoma may affect the body metabolism in three different ways, namely, hypersecretion, hyposecretion and tumor mass effects. In hypersecretion (secretory pituitary gland tumor), the pituitary hormones are secreted more than the normal amount; whereas in case of hyposecretion (non-secretory pituitary gland tumor), there is insufficient production of pituitary hormones. Both these pituitary disorders may result in hormonal imbalance.

The symptoms of pituitary tumor is directly related to the abnormal secretion of pituitary hormones. Pituitary adenoma is further categorized into different types depending upon the hormone(s) that is getting affected. For example; GH secreting tumor, prolactin-secreting tumor, and ACTH secreting tumor. The symptoms of pituitary adenoma observed only in the females are nipple discharge, irregular menstruation or stopping of menstruation and excessive growth of hair in the body. In case of males, the symptoms of pituitary adenoma include breast development and impotence.

The tumor mass effect is caused due to the enlargement of the pituitary gland, which in turn exerts pressure in the adjacent. Most commonly manifested tumor pressure symptoms are headache, watery nasal drainage, facial pain, skin changes, dizziness, constipation, diarrhea, temperature intolerance, body hair loss, increased fatigue, seizure, weight gain, weight loss, sexual disorders, low blood pressure, vision problem and at times, vision loss.

Pituitary gland tumor can be diagnosed by performing the imaging tests like computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The enlarged and/or shrunk pituitary gland can be observed in case of tumor growth. Blood tests are usually conducted in order to check the levels of pituitary hormones. Based on the manifested symptoms of the patient, the physician may conduct the investigations for a specific pituitary hormone. Speaking about the treatment of pituitary gland tumor or adenoma, a surgical removal of the tumor is often recommended along with the medications in order to manage the symptoms. Surgery may be performed in the nose, sinus or skull portion.