What are pituitary disorders?
Pituitary disorders are a group of conditions caused by an imbalance of hormones in the pituitary gland.
The type of condition depends on whether too much, or too little hormone is released and which organ the hormone was intended for.
Some of the main conditions are:
-
- Acromegaly
- Craniopharyngioma
- Cushing’s disease
- Diabetes insipidus
- Hypopituitarism – non-functioning tumours
- Prolactinoma
A patient may have more than one condition.
What causes pituitary disorders?
Pituitary disorders are caused when hormones can’t reach the intended body part. The cause of this may be due to genetic mutation, a tumour, or may be unknown.
The pituitary gland plays a key role in keeping the body balanced by sending signals (hormones) to different organs. When the pituitary gland isn’t working properly, these signals can be lost or confused, causing certain parts of the body to stop functioning as they should.
What are the symptoms of pituitary disorders?
The symptoms of a pituitary disorder vary based on the individual condition. Some conditions share similar symptoms.
Symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Vision, speech and sleep disturbance
- Temperature sensitivity
- Slow growth and problems with puberty (in children)
- Abnormal weight and appetite fluctuations
- Sexual and fertility issues (in adults)
- Aches and pains, muscle weakness
- Mood swings
- Excessive tiredness and lack of energy
- Impaired regulation of thirst and urine production
- Blood pressure issues
