Pituitary Adenomas
Pituitary adenomas are tumors originating from the pituitary gland, a very important gland that regulates the function of other glands throughout the body.
In general, pituitary adenomas are benign (noncancerous) slow-growing tumors, unlike pituitary carcinomas, which have a rapid growth and worse prognosis, but very unusual lesions.
Some of these lesions manifest by an unusually high hormone secretion, with various clinical diagnosis, such as:
- Hyperthyroidism: An unusual presentation related to the excessive amount of thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland, secondary to a pituitary adenoma.
- Cushing syndrome: When cortisol is excessively elevated due to a hormone secreting pituitary adenoma.
- Galactorrhea: Anomalous milk secretion and production in men and women secondary to prolactin elevation.
- Amenorrhea: When menstrual cycles are disturbed by elevation of sexual hormones.
- Gigantism: Unusually high levels of growth hormone in children. In adults it is called acromegaly.
In some instance there is no hormone production, rather patients present with symptoms secondary to mass effect such as, headaches, visual alterations, nausea, among others.
Different treatment options exist, such as endoscopic, endonasal, or microscopic surgery —the latter of which is the first option for most cases.
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