Pituitary Gland Diseases
Acromegaly
Acromegaly is a rare condition that occurs when an excessive amount of growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland. In almost all cases, acromegaly is caused by a noncancerous tumor, typically affecting the pituitary gland. This condition requires medical attention to relieve symptoms and prevent life-threatening complications.
Patients with acromegaly often experience sudden growth in the size of their hands and feet. Additional symptoms of acromegaly may include excessive sweating, skin tags, fatigue, muscle weakness, headaches, back pain, vision problems, and menstrual irregularities in women. Patients experiencing the aforementioned symptoms should contact their doctor to receive the care they need.
Cushing's Disease
Cushing’s disease is a disorder involving the excessive production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by the pituitary gland. It typically occurs when a tumor forms on the pituitary gland. ACTH is responsible for maintaining the body’s levels of cortisol, a hormone normally released due to stress. Symptoms of Cushing’s disease include obesity of the upper body except the arms, pronouncedly round face, acne, quick bruising, bone pain and muscle weakness.
To diagnose Cushing’s disease, your doctor will perform blood and urine tests to measure your cortisol levels. The recommended treatment is often surgery to remove the mass from the pituitary gland. If this is unsuccessful, medication may be necessary to reduce the production of cortisol. In the most severe cases, surgery to remove the adrenal glands may be considered.
Diabetes Insipidus
Diabetes insipidus is a rare disease that is characterized by severe thirst and extremely frequent urination. This condition is unrelated to diabetes mellitus, the common form of diabetes that involves insulin deficiency, although the two conditions share many of the same signs and symptoms. In addition to the increased thirst and urination, younger patients with diabetes insipidus may also experience fever, vomiting, dry skin and delayed growth.
Hyperprolactinemia
Hyperprolactinemia is a condition involving an excess of the hormone prolactin in the blood. Prolactin is secreted by the pituitary gland and it is normally found in very small quantities in men and women. It is responsible for breast development in girls and milk production after childbirth, so levels typically only rise during pregnancy.
Hyperprolactinemia may initiate interruptions in the menstrual cycle, stimulate the production of breast milk in women and men, diminish the libido and cause impotence and infertility. Hyperprolactinemia can result from pituitary tumors, hypothyroidism, consumption of certain foods, medications, irritation of the chest and a number of other causes. This condition is diagnosed through blood tests. In most cases, hyperprolactinemia is treated with medication to moderate prolactin levels.
Hypopituitarism
Hypopituitarism is a disorder involving the pituitary gland in which it does not produce an adequate supply of one or more hormones. The pituitary gland links brain activity with hormone production to help maintain the function of organs throughout the body. Considered the master gland of hormone production, the pituitary regulates all other glands.
The pituitary gland is responsible for numerous hormones, so the effects of hypopituitarism are different depending on which hormone is lacking. Hypopituitarism is diagnosed through blood tests measuring various hormone levels and MRI or CT scan imaging of the pituitary gland. Treatment generally includes hormone therapy to replenish the missing hormones. When hypopituitarism is the result of a tumor, surgery may be necessary to remove the growth.
Pituitary Adenoma
A pituitary adenoma is a tumor that develops on the pituitary gland, located within the skull. Since the pituitary gland regulates all other glands within the body, an adenoma may affect hormone production. Pituitary adenomas are noncancerous, but usually require treatment to ensure proper pituitary gland function.
Some common symptoms of pituitary adenoma include headache, vision loss, seizures, nausea, low blood pressure, weakness and changes in weight. These may vary based on the hormones affected.
Surgery is the main form of treatment for pituitary adenoma and involves removing the entire tumor either through the nose or the top of the skull, depending on its size and location. Regular monitoring may be all that is needed for adenomas that are not growing or causing any symptoms.
