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Common Signs of a Pituitary Tumor

Jan 13, 2025
Common Signs of a Pituitary Tumor
The pituitary gland regulates important body functions through hormone secretion. Benign pituitary tumors affecting this tiny gland can cause overproduction or underproduction of hormones.

Being diagnosed with a pituitary tumor can cause anxiety. Fortunately, most aren’t cancerous. Still, the pituitary gland plays an important role in regulating several body functions via hormone secretion. Benign pituitary tumors can cause overproduction or underproduction of these hormones. 

Our team at Coast Neurosurgical Associates regularly diagnoses and treats the symptoms of pituitary tumors. Although they’re not cancerous, pituitary tumors can create significant health issues. Other times, these tumors cause no immediate effects.

Pituitary gland basics

A tiny gland located at the base of the brain and behind your nose, the pituitary gland releases hormones that affect systems in almost every part of your body. Sometimes referred to as the master gland, the pituitary manufactures and delivers several vital hormones. 

Functions controlled by the pituitary include: 

  • Body growth
  • Stress and injury responses
  • Metabolism
  • Reproduction, including labor, childbirth, and lactation 
  • Sodium and water balance

Pituitary gland tumors may actively produce a pituitary hormone. Sometimes, they are asymmetric. Other times, you might feel pressure on surrounding tissue. 

Pituitary tumors are classified by size. 

Common signs of a pituitary tumor

Not all pituitary tumors cause symptoms. However, when they do, your symptoms depend on which pituitary hormone the tumor makes. These types of tumors are called functioning adenomas. They are usually too small to cause problems due to pressing on other structures. 

That’s more common with non-functioning adenomas. When they get large, they can press on parts of the brain and nerves, causing symptoms. Non-functioning tumors can also cause low levels of pituitary hormones by suppressing their manufacture and release. 

Tumors that press on other tissue cause symptoms like: 

  • Headaches
  • Dizziness and fainting
  • Numbness or pain in the face
  • Eye problems, including movement and issues with the visual field 
  • Fatigue
  • Unexplained weight changes 
  • Loss of body hair
  • Feeling cold
  • Menstrual effects in women
  • Erectile dysfunction in men
  • Growth of breast tissue in men
  • Changes in libido

Functioning adenomas cause symptoms based on the hormones they secrete. Here are the most common functioning tumors: 

  • Growth hormone adenomas: causing gigantism in children and teens.
  • Corticotroph adenomas: excess cortisol production causes a group of symptoms called Cushing’s syndrome
  • Gonadotropin adenomas: causing lower levels of sex hormones and occasionally higher levels
  • Prolactin adenomas: lower libido, infertility, osteoporosis, abnormal breast milk production (in people of all genders)
  • Thyrotropin adenomas: cause hyperthyroidism that increases appetite. It also produces irregular heartbeat, tremors, weight loss, and more

Pituitary tumors can be controlled with medication, radiation, or surgery. Non-symptomatic adenomas may simply remain under observation until they begin to produce noticeable effects. 

Call or click to book a pituitary gland consultation with the experts at Coast Neurosurgical Associates in Long Beach, California, today.