Pituitary Adenoma

Pituitary Adenoma General Information

Pituitary Adenoma is a type of tumor that affects the pituitary gland, also known as the hypophysis and is usually associated with 15% of the intracranial neoplasms. This type of medical conditional is extremely dangerous because in many cases it remains undetected and even after autopsy some specialists are unable to notice it. This happens in more than 20% of the cases. The hypophysis (pituitary gland) is a very small nervous organ found at the base of the brain and has a major role in producing growth hormones and in controlling the activity of other important glands of the human body, such as the thyroid, sexual glands and the suprarenal.

Pituitary Adenoma represents the tumor (abnormal growth) of the pituitary gland. These types of tumors do not spread to the surrounding tissues and organs and are not cancerous (benign). A medical disorder of this kind can lead to growth disturbances, changes of the normal hormonal balance or to damages of the main nerves. Problematic about this disorder is the fact the scientists do not know yet what causes Pituitary Adenoma. Some of the cases were related to mutations of the genetic material that helps the cells to organize, called DNA. The causes of these mutations are numerous and very dangerous and can include: prolonged exposure to toxic substances that provoke cancer, genetic inheritance, powerful injuries of the brain etc. The personal history or even family history of multiple endocrine dysfunctions increases the risks of developing a tumor of this type. The tumors can affect the thyroid, the parathyroid or the hypothalamus.

Pituitary Adenoma Symptoms

Pituitary Adenoma is considered a life threatening medical condition because it is very hard to detect. This type of tumor causes specific signs and symptoms that usually vary from mild to strong and severe ones. The intensity depends whether or not the abnormal growth of the pituitary secrets one or a larger variety of hormones. Sometimes, this tumor may not produce any hormones, but the fact that is located at the base of the brain can lead to the appearance of certain signs and symptoms. The most common manifestations of Pituitary Adenoma that are usually experienced by most of the patients are: dizziness, extreme headaches, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, sudden blindness, loss of peripheral vision along with other similar problems with the eyesight, loss of consciousness, unusual changes in weight, tremor or nervousness.

Women may also accuse, besides these common symptoms, cessation of menstrual periods called amenorrhea. Men can be affected by erectile dysfunctions that interfere seriously in their sexual life or their sexual desire may be decreasing. There are some particular and unique signs and symptoms that are experienced only by some patients and can include: deepening of the voice, pain felt in the joint area, easy bruising, abnormal growth of feet, hands and skull, difficulty falling asleep, irregular and rapid heart beat (palpitations), increasing sweating and hair growth and frequent movements of the bowel. Usually, Pituitary Adenoma is associated with several diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, kidney stones, thyroid problems or cardiovascular disorders.

Pituitary Adenoma Treatment

Pituitary Adenoma is an extremely dangerous medical condition that threatens the patient’s life. Although it presents a challenge for any doctor because it is very hard to detect, the treatment option varies and can usually improve the patient’s quality of life. If discovered in time and treated properly, the negative effects of this type of tumor can be rapidly minimized. You are strongly advised to call your health care provider and consult a specialist in the field as soon as you start experiencing the specific signs and symptoms of this disease that we have listed above. After, the doctor will ask you to describe your symptoms in detail, he will demand a couple of tests that will help him obtain the exact diagnosis. It is very important that the doctor knows the patient’s personal medical history as well as the family’s medical problems. Only after knowing all these information, he will perform a physical examination.

The specialists in this type of problems are the endocrinologists; these doctors are specialized in disorders of the endocrine glands and their hormones. The most common tests that you must do are: visual field tests, urine and blood tests, MRI and CT scans and venous blood sampling. All these tests help measuring the exact levels of hormones and sugar in the patient’s organism, check for disorders of the peripheral vision, or picture the brain to see any abnormalities inside its structure. After discovering the exact diagnosis, the health care provider can proceed with applying the treatment option he considers best for each patient. In all the cases, the treatment depends on several factors such as the size of the tumor and on its type.

Medications are usually used because they reduce the tumor’s dimensions and block the secretion of hormones, controlling also the symptoms. The two most common used drugs are Sandostatin and Sandostatin Lar Deport. If the Pituitary Adenoma is similar to prolactinomas, then the basic treatment will include Bromocriptine and Cabergoline that decrease the dimensions of the tumor and reduce the symptoms in intensity. If the tumor is larger, surgery or radiation therapy may be the perfect treatment options. In all these cases good responses were recorded. In the case of a thyrotrophic adenoma, the therapy is based on a long-acting somatostatin analog called Octreotide.

Surgery is may be the most common treatment for Pituitary Adenoma. If the pituitary gland is damaged during the operation, certain medications are used to replace the hormones produced by this gland. Radiation therapy is considered a good treatment option for Pituitary Adenoma by many doctors. The radiations are used to kill the tumor cells and are applied if the surgery was not enough to remove the tumor. There are three types of radiation therapy: proton beam radiotherapy, conventional therapy (the radiations are directed to the hypophysis from a source located outside the body) and stereotactic radiosurgery. Because there are no guidelines in order to prevent the occurrence of Pituitary Adenoma, doctors advise the patients to look for medical guidance urgently.