The pituitary is a gland that is joined to the base of the brain. It is about the size of a pea. It is located behind the nose and the sphenoid sinus, below the hypothalamus. It is also called the “master gland” because its hormones help regulate the balance of hormones made by most other glands. Hence, the pituitary controls many processes like growth, development and reproduction. It is also instrumental in the function of organs like the breasts, kidneys and the uterus.
What are pituitary tumours?
Pituitary Tumours are abnormal growths that develop in your pituitary gland. Some tumours result in too much hormones, while others cause lower levels of hormones to be produced.
Most pituitary tumours are noncancerous (benign) growths (adenomas). Adenomas tend not to spread to other parts of your body and remain within the pituitary gland or surrounding tissues. Some pituitary tumours are even non-functioning or null cell adenomas; they do not make hormones.
There are various ways of treating pituitary tumours. Some may involve managing hormone levels with medication, controlling its growth or even removing the tumour. Your doctor will decide the best approach to treat you.
What are the symptoms of a pituitary tumour?
These tumours do not grow or spread extensively. Some pituitary tumours do not cause any symptoms. They may accidentally be diagnosed during an MRI or CT scan performed for some other reason. The signs and symptoms of non-functioning tumours vary. They are related to their growth and the pressure they put on other surrounding structures.
However, some tumours that make hormones can cause a multitude of symptoms, depending on the hormones they produce.
Some generalized symptoms of pituitary tumours include:
- Vision problems
- Headaches
- Change in the sense of smell
- Vomiting or nausea
- Nasal drainage
- Change in behaviour
- Sexual dysfunction
- Fatigue
- Infertility
- Joint pain or muscle weakness
- Unexplained or sudden weight gain or loss
- Changes in the monthly menstrual cycle
- Early onset menopause
How are pituitary tumours diagnosed?
If your doctor suspects a pituitary tumour, he will conduct a complete examination of your symptoms and medical history. He will also perform a physical exam. Pathological tests may be done to check hormone levels in your blood. Radiological scans like an MRI or a CT scan help to show a growth on the pituitary. All these tests help to confirm the diagnosis of a pituitary tumour.
How are pituitary tumours treated?
Treatment usually consists of medicine, surgery, radiation, or a combination of the three.
- Medical management: Some tumours are treated with medications that shrink the tumour and relieve symptoms.
- Surgery: Tumours can often be removed with endoscopic surgery through the nose and sinuses. This is called the transsphenoidal technique.
- Radiation: Radiation therapy involves the use of high energy X-rays to shrink tumours and kill cancer cells. Stereotactic radiosurgery is a special form of radiation therapy that uses high doses of radiation aimed precisely at the tumour from multiple directions. This helps to stop the tumour from growing.
Occasionally, your doctor may decide to monitor symptoms rather than begin treatment. Regular annual tests may be advised to monitor the growth of the tumour. This may be the case with patients that have other major co-morbidities or with small tumours that don’t cause serious symptoms.
What is the outlook for patients with pituitary tumours?
The size and type of tumour determine the outlook of the patient. When treatment helps to get rid of the tumour, patients with benign cases can return to their normal lives.
It is important to note that pituitary tumours can recur. If that happens, you would need to undergo treatment again.
In some cases, treatment for pituitary tumours can result in low hormone levels, for which you will be advised to take hormonal medications to replace the lost hormones.