Pituitary Disease / Pituitary Gland
Pituitary diseases are disorders associated with the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is located in the brain and produces essential hormones that travel to other organs to stimulate the production of other different hormones. Some disorders of the pituitary gland or pituitary diseases are listed below.
Tumours and Nodules
Pituitary tumours and nodules are abnormal growths and swellings that develop in the pituitary gland. Some are benign, while others may cause headaches and impair vision as they grow and affect the functioning of surrounding tissues. They can also cause hormone deficiencies. Treatment options include controlling growth and hormone levels with medication and removing the tumour.
Prolactinoma
A prolactinoma is a benign tumour that causes the pituitary gland to produce excess amounts of prolactin hormone. The prolactin hormone controls milk production and regulates the functioning of the reproductive system, including other essential functions. The disorder occurs when the cells that produce prolactin start to multiply by themselves.
Prolactinoma symptoms include tenderness of the breast and discharge of breast milk in women, a dysfunction of the ovaries and testes, irregular menstrual flow, low sex drive, low energy levels, erectile dysfunction and reduced fertility. If diagnosis reveals a high level of prolactin in the blood, prolactinoma treatment is necessary to normalise prolactin levels and reduce the size of tumours.
Acromegaly
Acromegaly is a condition in which the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormones. Excess growth hormones can lead to extreme changes and enlargement of body organs. Acromegaly causes gigantism in children, and increase in size of hands, feet, and enlargement of internal organs in adults. Proper diagnosis involves testing to ascertain the status of the other pituitary gland and hormones. Acromegaly treatment is typically surgery.
Cushing Syndrome
Cushing syndrome occurs due to overexposure to cortisol or synthetic substitute versions. The adrenal glands (in the kidney) produce cortisol when stimulated by adrenocorticotropic (one of the pituitary gland hormones). A pituitary gland tumour may be one of the Cushing syndrome causes. Symptoms include central obesity with thin arms and legs, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, and depression and psychiatric problems. Cushing syndrome treatment involves reducing synthetic cortisol intake, surgery to remove tumours, medication, and radiotherapy.
Hypopituitarism
Hypopituitarism occurs when the pituitary gland fails to produce one, some, or all of the hormones it usually produces. Causes of this condition include tumours, inflammation or malfunction of the pituitary gland, injury or trauma to the head, genetic errors, and infections. Signs and symptoms depend on which part of the pituitary gland is affected, the extent, and the duration. The common hypopituitarism symptoms are dizziness, weakness, low blood sugar levels, weight loss, decreased ability to produce male hormone, menstrual issues and infertility, and uncontrolled urination and severe thirst. Hypopituitarism treatment involves replacing the deficient hormones.
Diabetes Insipidus
Diabetes insipidus, also called water diabetes, is a condition that causes the patient to pass lots of colourless and odourless urine. A patient with diabetes insipidus can expel between 3 to 20 quarts of dilute urine a day. The standard quantity is 1 to 2 quarts. An imbalance in vasopressin levels may cause the condition. Vasopressin is a hormone produced in the brain and stored in the pituitary gland.
The job of the vasopressin hormone is to control fluid flow in and out of the kidneys. The disorder causes the kidneys to keep discharging fluid even when the patient is dehydrated. Diabetes insipidus diagnosis involves urine, blood, water deprivation, and MRI tests. And treatment depends on the underlying causes such as brain injury, brain tumour, brain inflammation, and blockage of arteries to the brain.
For more information on prolactinoma or the pituitary gland, please visit Hormones Australia website.