Pituitary Tumor

Pituitary Tumor
A pituitary tumor is not cancer. This type of tumor is located in the
pituitary gland. which is a small, pea- sized gland in the center of the
brain. The pituitary gland is also known as “the master gland” because
it makes substances that control other glands and parts of the body.
This type of tumor grows very slowly and it does not spread to other
areas of the body.
Symptoms of a Benign Pituitary Tumor
Not all benign pituitary tumors cause you to have symptoms. If
symptoms do occur, they may be for the following reasons:
The size of the tumor (mass effect) on the pituitary gland itself
and surround structures.
Tumor liberates active hormones (signals that cause changes in the
body)
What symptoms are caused by the tumor mass effect?
The size of the tumor may cause the following symptoms:
Headache
Changes or loss of vision
Double vision
Dizziness
Nausea and vomiting
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Loss of body hair
Change in a woman’s menstrual period (fewer or no periods)
Change or loss in the ability of a woman to make breast milk
(lactate) or unexpected production of milk.
The penis fails to become or stay erect (male impotence)
Breast development in men
Loss of male facial hair
Lower sex drive for both men and women
Slow growth in children
Confusion
Seizures
What are the symptoms if a tumor delivers pituitary
gland hormones?
The change in pituitary gland hormones may cause the following
symptoms:
ACTH (Adrenocorticotropin) and Cortisol are two hormones that
are made in different glands but work together. Too much of these
hormones may cause the following symptoms (known as
Cushing’s disease):

Headache

Loss of vision

Weight gain in the face (moon face), in the neck (buffalo hump)
and around the stomach

Purple or pink stretch marks on the stomach or chest

Hair growth on the face, upper back, arms

Bruise easily

Bones that are brittle or break easily
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
Depression, anxiety, change in mood
Prolactin is a hormone made by the pituitary gland that causes a
woman’s breasts to make milk (lactate) during and after
pregnancy. Too much of this hormone may cause the following
symptoms:

Headache

Loss of vision

Change in a woman’s menstrual period (fewer or no periods)

Fertility problems (unable to get pregnant)

The penis fails to become or stay erect (male impotence)

Lower sex drive for both men and women

Women who are not pregnant or breast feeding make breast
milk (lactation)
Growth hormone (Somatotropin) is a hormone made by the
pituitary gland that controls body growth. It also helps control the
sugar and fat your body uses to make energy. Too much of this
hormone may cause the following symptoms:

Headache

Abnormal or increased growth of the bones in the face, hands
and feet (Acromegaly)

Numbness and tingling in the hands / fingers (carpal tunnel)

Snoring a lot

Sleep apnea (stop breathing while sleeping)

Joint pain

Sweating a lot
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Thyroid-Stimulating hormone (Thyrotropin) is a hormone made
in the pituitary gland which is sent out in the body to the thyroid
gland. Too much of this hormone may cause the following
symptoms:

Fast or irregular heart beat

Abnormal shaking

Unplanned weight loss

Trouble sleeping

Many bowel movements

Sweating a lot
How will my doctor know if I have a pituitary tumor?
Your doctor will ask you questions about your past health and do a
physical exam. If your doctor thinks you have a pituitary tumor, other
tests may be done. These include:
Imaging
A CAT scan of the head and/or a MRI (Magnetic Resonance
Imaging) of the brain can show if you have a pituitary tumor and
its size and location. The pictures also help the doctor see if the
tumor is causing problems with other parts of the brain.
Blood Tests
Blood tests called a “pituitary panel” can help find out if the tumor
is causing any abnormal amounts of each hormone.
24 Hour Urine Test
This test is done to determine if you have a high amount of
Cortisol, which is a sign of a pituitary tumor.
Dexamethasone Suppression Testing (For Cushing’s disease
investigation)
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You will be given a medicine called Dexamethasone (Decadron)
and your Cortisol amounts will be checked from a sample of blood
or urine in order to check the way it reacts.
IPSS (Inferior Petrosal Sinus Sampling). (For Cushing’s disease
investigation) It is an endovascular procedure (performed through
insertion of catheters through the groin) for some cases of
Cushing’s syndrome to confirm the source of the problem.
Eye Exam
An exam to check your vision and the general health of your eyes.
Treatment for Pituitary Tumors
Benign pituitary tumors can be treated with medicine or surgery.
Depending on the type of tumor that you have, your doctor will decide
what treatment is best for you. The following is a list of treatments for
each type of tumor:
Prolactinoma
Your doctor will treat a pituitary tumor that produces the hormone
Prolactin with medicine first in most of the cases. The medicine is
used to shrink the tumor and bring the Prolactin amounts back to
normal. If the medicine does not work or cause side effects, then
surgery to remove the tumor would be done.
Cushings
The first choice treatment for pituitary tumors that cause Cushings
syndrome/disease is surgery. The surgery removes the tumor.
Medicine and radiation are secondary options when surgery is not
able to completely control the disease.
Acromegaly
The first choice treatment for pituitary tumors that causes
abnormal or increased growth of the bones in the face, hands and
feet is surgery. Medicine and radiation are secondary options when
surgery is not able to completely control the disease.