Pituitary Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment - Baltimore, Maryland

A pituitary tumor is a mass of abnormal cells in the pituitary gland. The tumor causes the pituitary gland to produce too many or too few hormones. The pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain. Pituitary tumors, also known as pituitary adenomas, can be classified as:

• Macroadenomas – 1 centimeter or larger
• Microadenomas – less than 1 centimeter

Most pituitary tumors are noncancerous and do not spread to other areas of the body, but can still cause symptoms. A few common types of pituitary tumors include:

• Adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting (ACTH) tumors
• Growth hormone-secreting tumors
• Prolactin-secreting tumors
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone-secreting tumors 

Symptoms of pituitary tumors depend on the type of tumor. Common symptoms include:

• Change in weight
• Headache
• Vision problems
• Changes in body hair (loss or growth)
• Frequent urination
• Nausea
• Irregular menstrual periods

The complications of having too many hormones because of a pituitary tumor may include:

• Cushing’s disease
• Hyperthyroidism

If a pituitary tumor is expected, a doctor may use the following methods to help with diagnosis:

• Urine and blood tests to check hormone levels
• Vision test
• MRI or CT scan of the brain
• Evaluation with an endocrinologist 

Pituitary tumor treatment depends on the type, size and location of the tumor. Early detection is essential to successfully treating a pituitary tumor.

Pituitary tumor treatment methods may include:

• Medications -  typically regulate hormones and decrease tumor sizes
• Observation - closely monitoring tumors that do not present symptoms
• Surgery
• Radiation therapy