What is a pituitary gland?
The pituitary gland is a small gland located at the base of the brain. It is attached to the hypothalamus via a thin stalk containing blood vessels and nerves. The main function of the pituitary gland is to secrete hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, stress responses, and the functions of the of the sex organs. The pituitary gland carries out these functions in conjunction with the thyroid gland, adrenal gland, ovaries, and testis.
What are pituitary tumors?
A pituitary tumor is an abnormal growth of cells within the pituitary gland. Most tumors found in the pituitary gland are benign, meaning they are non-cancerous. These tumors are usually slow growing and do not spread to other parts of the body.
Most patients are diagnosed because of symptoms associated with increased hormonal production. Studies are ordered for symptoms such as headache or decreased peripheral vision.
The most common type of pituitary adenoma is a prolactinoma, which secretes a hormone called prolactin that can cause abnormal breast milk production (galactorrhea).
How are pituitary adenomas diagnosed?
Your physician will ask about your symptoms, obtain your medical history and perform a physical exam. You may be referred to an endocrinologist who specializes in diseases of the endocrine glands and their hormones. Diagnostic tests may include:
- Blood Tests
This is done to measure hormone levels, blood sugar levels and to identify any other conditions that may be causing your symptoms. - Urine Tests
This is done to measure excretion levels of certain pituitary gland hormones. - Visual Field Tests
This is done to check for problems with peripheral vision. - MRI
Imaging study of the brain.
What are the treatment options?
Treatment option depend upon the size of the tumor, whether the tumor has invaded or pressed on surrounding structures, such as the brain and visual pathways, and the person’s age and overall health.
- Use of Medication
The primary treatment for most prolactinomas is dopamine agonist therapy, usually cabergoline or bromocriptine. Although there are some medication options for other hormone secreting tumors, these are still fairly new and usually only given if surgery is not feasible. There are no current medications for non-secreting (non-functioning) pituitary tumors. - Surgery
Surgery is the first line treatment for most hormone secreting pituitary tumors except prolactinomas. For non-functioning tumors, surgery can be considered for tumors that show growth on repeated MRI scans or when the tumor pushes on the optic nerve and causes visual problems. If the tumor is large, surgery can occasionally be recommended for control of headaches, but only if other more common headache causes have been eliminated and conservative treatment has failed.
Surgical options include craniotomy or a minimally invasive transsphenoidal surgery. - Stereotactic Radiosurgery
This single-session procedure uses narrow beams of radiation that are targeted to the tumor alone, sparing potentially harmful radiation to surrounding healthy brain tissue. The NeuroTexas Institute currently utilizes transsphenoidal surgery.
transsphenoidal surgery for more information about the Brain Tumor Center at NeuroTexas Institute.
Information from the National Institutes of Health, November 2008
