What is a pituitary adenoma?
A pituitary adenoma is a non-cancerous (benign) tumour that grows in the pituitary gland. The gland is located at the base of the skull and plays a major role in controlling important functions of the body.
Tumours can be ‘functioning ‘- producing excessive hormones, or ‘non-functioning’ – in which case, hormones are not produced.
What causes pituitary adenomas?
Pituitary adenomas are caused by rapid development of cells in the pituitary gland. The cause of this is unknown and most tumours happen by chance.
In rare cases the tumour is the result of multiple endocrine neoplasia, which is an inherited condition.
What are the symptoms of a pituitary adenoma?
The symptoms of pituitary adenomas vary based on whether the tumour is functioning, or non-functioning.
Non-functioning tumours cause issues by pushing on other parts of the brain.
Symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vision problems
Functioning tumours produce hormones, the hormones produced vary, as do the symptoms, which can include:
- Excess of growth hormone, causing large hands and feet
- Rapid growth in children
- Irregular periods or milk production in women
- Weight gain
- Rapid heart rate and high blood pressure
