The Pituitary tumours that are the abnormal growths in the pituitary gland. Some pituitary tumours cause an overabundance of hormones that regulate vital bodily functions. Certain pituitary tumours can cause your pituitary gland to produce fewer hormones.
The vast majority of pituitary tumours are noncancerous (benign) growths (adenomas). Adenomas are benign tumours that remain in the pituitary gland or surrounding tissues and do not spread to other parts of the body.
Pituitary tumours can be treated in a variety of ways, including removing the tumour, controlling its growth, and managing your hormone levels with medications. Your doctor may advise you to observe — or to “wait and see.”
Symptoms of a Pituitary Tumour
Pituitary tumours do not cause symptoms. They are sometimes discovered by chance during an imaging test, such as an MRI or CT scan, that is being performed for another reason. Pituitary tumours that produce hormones (function) can cause a wide range of signs and symptoms, depending on the hormone produced. The signs and symptoms of pituitary tumours that do not produce hormones (nonfunctioning pituitary tumours) are related to their size and the strain they place on other structures.
Macroadenomas are large pituitary tumours that measure 1 centimetre (slightly less than a half-inch) or larger. Microadenomas are smaller tumours. Because of their size, macroadenomas can put pressure on the normal pituitary gland and its surrounding structures.
Causes
The cause of uncontrolled cell growth in the pituitary gland that results in a tumour is unknown.
The pituitary gland is a small, bean-shaped gland at the base of your brain, behind your nose and between your ears. Despite its small size, the gland has an impact on nearly every organ in your body. Its hormones aid in the regulation of vital functions such as growth, blood pressure, and reproduction.
A small percentage of pituitary tumour cases run in families, but the majority do not have an obvious hereditary factor. Nonetheless, scientists believe that genetic changes play a significant role in pituitary tumour development.
Complications
Pituitary tumours do not typically grow or spread widely. They can, however, have an impact on your health, potentially causing:
- Loss of vision Optic nerves can be compressed by a pituitary tumour.
- Hormone deficiency that is permanent. The presence or removal of a pituitary tumour may permanently alter your hormone supply, which may require replacement with hormone medications.
Pituitary apoplexy is a rare but potentially serious complication of a pituitary tumour that occurs when there is sudden bleeding into the tumour. It feels like you’ve had the worst headache you’ve ever had. Pituitary apoplexy necessitates immediate medical attention, usually in the form of corticosteroids and possibly surgery.
What is Pituitary Gland tumour?
Your pituitary gland is only about the size of a pea, but it controls a lot of important things, including your growth, heart rate, and ability to have children. It is sometimes referred to as the master gland because it instructs your other glands when to produce more hormones. These hormones then circulate throughout your body, instructing your organs on what they need to do to keep everything running smoothly.
A pituitary gland tumour is a collection of abnormal cells that grow uncontrollably in your pituitary gland. The vast majority of these tumours are not cancerous. Pituitary cancer is extremely uncommon.
Nonetheless, tumours can cause serious problems, either due to their size (large tumours) or because they produce extra hormones that your body does not require (functioning tumors). Surgery, medicine, or radiation are usually used to treat them.
What is the Pituitary tumour?
A pituitary tumor is a malignant growth of the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is a small gland located in the brain. It can be found behind the back of the nose. It produces hormones that influence many other glands and functions in your body. The majority of the pituitary tumors are not cancerous (benign). They are not contagious to other parts of your body. They can, however, cause the pituitary gland to produce too few or too many hormones, causing problems in the body.
Pituitary tumours that produce an excess of hormones will cause other glands to produce an excess of hormones. This will result in symptoms associated with each of the specific hormones. Many pituitary tumours will also press on the optic nerves nearby. This can lead to vision issues.
Types of Pituitary tumours
Although the effects of pituitary tumours are well understood, the causes, like those of many other tumours, are largely unknown. A small percentage may be caused by a faulty gene.
The following are the various types of pituitary tumours:
- Tumor that produces ACTH
- Tumour that produces prolactin (prolactinoma)
- Tumour that secretes growth hormone
Conclusion
The Pituitary tumours that are the abnormal growths in the pituitary gland. Certain pituitary tumours can cause your pituitary gland to produce fewer hormones. The vast majority of pituitary tumours are noncancerous growths. Adenomas are benign tumours that remain in the pituitary gland or surrounding tissues and do not spread to other parts of the body. Pituitary tumours that produce hormones can cause a wide range of signs and symptoms, depending on the hormone produced. The signs and symptoms of pituitary tumours that do not produce hormones (nonfunctioning pituitary tumours) are related to their size and the strain they place on other structures.