Pituitary tumors
What is Pituitary tumors?
Pituitary tumors are abnormal growths that develop in the pituitary gland. This small gland sits at the base of your brain. It controls many hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, stress response, and reproduction.
Most pituitary tumors are benign, meaning they are not cancer. However, they can still cause serious health problems. Some tumors make too much of certain hormones. Others press on the pituitary gland and reduce hormone production. Many pituitary tumors are small and cause no symptoms at all.
When pituitary tumors affect hormone levels, they can create a chain reaction throughout your body. Your pituitary gland controls other glands like your thyroid and adrenal glands. Even a small tumor can disrupt this delicate balance and lead to fatigue, weight changes, vision problems, or reproductive issues.
Symptoms
- Persistent headaches that may be severe
- Vision problems, especially loss of peripheral vision
- Unexplained fatigue or weakness
- Unexpected weight gain or weight loss
- Irregular or absent menstrual periods in women
- Erectile dysfunction or low sex drive in men
- Mood changes including depression or irritability
- Excessive thirst and frequent urination
- Nausea or vomiting without clear cause
- Facial changes or enlarged hands and feet
Many people with small pituitary tumors have no symptoms at all. These tumors are often discovered accidentally during brain scans for other reasons. Symptoms typically appear when tumors grow large enough to press on nearby structures or significantly alter hormone levels.
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Causes and risk factors
Doctors do not know exactly what causes most pituitary tumors to form. The tumors develop when cells in the pituitary gland begin to grow and divide abnormally. This usually happens due to changes in the genetic material inside pituitary cells. Most pituitary tumors are not inherited and occur randomly.
Certain rare genetic conditions can increase your risk of developing pituitary tumors. Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 is one example. Family history of pituitary tumors raises your risk slightly. However, most people who develop these tumors have no known risk factors. Pituitary tumors can occur at any age but are most commonly diagnosed in older adults.
How it's diagnosed
Doctors diagnose pituitary tumors through a combination of blood tests, imaging studies, and vision tests. Blood work checks your hormone levels to see if the tumor is affecting pituitary function. Common tests measure ACTH, cortisol, thyroid hormones, prolactin, growth hormone, and sex hormones. Low ACTH levels may indicate that a tumor is pressing on your pituitary gland and reducing its normal function.
Rite Aid offers ACTH testing through our add-on panel at Quest Diagnostics locations nationwide. This test helps identify hormonal imbalances that may point to pituitary problems. Your doctor will also likely order an MRI scan of your brain to locate and measure any tumor. Vision tests check if the tumor is pressing on the optic nerves near the pituitary gland.
Treatment options
- Active monitoring with regular blood tests and imaging for small, non-functioning tumors
- Medications to shrink certain types of hormone-producing tumors
- Dopamine agonists like cabergoline for prolactin-secreting tumors
- Hormone replacement therapy if the tumor reduces normal pituitary function
- Surgery to remove the tumor through the nose or skull
- Radiation therapy for tumors that cannot be fully removed or continue growing
- Regular follow-up appointments to monitor hormone levels and tumor size
- Stress management and adequate sleep to support overall hormonal health
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- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
The first signs often include persistent headaches and vision changes, particularly loss of side vision. Many people also experience unexplained fatigue or changes in their menstrual cycle or sexual function. Some pituitary tumors cause no symptoms at all and are found accidentally during brain scans for other reasons.
Yes, blood tests can detect the hormonal changes caused by pituitary tumors. Tests that measure ACTH, prolactin, growth hormone, cortisol, and thyroid hormones help identify pituitary dysfunction. However, imaging studies like MRI scans are needed to actually see the tumor and determine its size and location.
No, almost all pituitary tumors are benign, meaning they are not cancer. These tumors rarely spread to other parts of the body. However, even benign pituitary tumors can cause serious health problems by disrupting hormone balance or pressing on nearby brain structures.
Pituitary tumors are more common than many people realize. Studies suggest that up to 20% of people may have small pituitary tumors. Most of these are tiny and cause no symptoms. Clinically significant pituitary tumors that require treatment are diagnosed in about 1 in 1,000 people.
Untreated pituitary tumors can grow larger and cause worsening symptoms. Large tumors may permanently damage vision by pressing on the optic nerves. Hormone imbalances can lead to serious complications like osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, or infertility. However, many small tumors remain stable for years and require only monitoring.
Lifestyle changes cannot shrink pituitary tumors, but they can help manage symptoms and support overall health. Getting adequate sleep, managing stress, and eating a balanced diet support hormonal balance. Regular exercise helps maintain bone density and cardiovascular health, which is important if your tumor affects hormone production.
Not all pituitary tumors require surgery. Small tumors that cause no symptoms may only need monitoring with regular imaging and blood tests. Some hormone-producing tumors respond well to medication. Surgery is typically recommended for large tumors causing vision problems, tumors that do not respond to medication, or tumors causing severe hormonal imbalances.
Yes, pituitary tumors can recur after treatment. About 10% to 20% of tumors grow back within 10 years after surgery. This is why regular follow-up with blood tests and imaging is important. Many recurrent tumors can be successfully treated with additional surgery, radiation therapy, or medication.
Functioning tumors produce excess amounts of hormones like prolactin, growth hormone, or ACTH. These cause specific symptoms related to hormone overproduction. Non-functioning tumors do not make excess hormones but can still cause problems by growing large and pressing on the pituitary gland or nearby structures. Non-functioning tumors may reduce normal hormone production.