Pituitary Tumour: Types, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Growth or tumour on the ‘master gland’ of our body or pituitary gland can result in low blood pressure, tiredness, changes in the sex drive and function etc. The hormone produced by the pituitary gland controls hormone levels in other body parts, thus regulating important bodily functions such as growth, development and reproduction.

Hence, abnormal cell growth can hinder many of the functions monitored by the pituitary gland.

Wondering how pituitary tumours can affect your body?

Keep reading to get all the information regarding this.

Pituitary gland tumour is an abnormal cell growth in the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is located behind the back of the nose that controls other glands and functions in the body.  Majority of pituitary tumours are not cancerous thus benign. It means they do not spread to other body parts. However, they can cause the master gland to produce too few or too many hormones, which can affect several bodily functions.

Pituitary tumours that result in overproduction of hormones can cause other glands to produce similar amounts of hormones. These excessive substances in the body can cause abnormalities, i.e., symptoms of diseases related to each specific hormone. Also, depending on its size, a pituitary tumour can put pressure on optic nerves, causing vision issues.

Individuals wondering what pituitary tumour is must have got their answers.

Now, let’s focus on other information related to it.

Pituitary tumours have lesser-known risk factors. More study is needed to find out the risk factors of this type of tumour. However, doctors have been able to relate some of the causes to family history or genetic diseases.

Genetic Syndrome

Tumours in the master gland can be part of the syndrome that can increase the risk of other types of tumours. These syndromes occur due to abnormal mutations in an individual’s genes.

These are discussed below -

• McCune-Albright Syndrome: This syndrome occurs due to the changes in a gene called GNAS1. This is a genetic disease, but people can get it before birth. Individuals who suffer from this syndrome have brown patches on their skins and can develop several bone problems, hormone issues and pituitary tumours.
• Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia, Type I (MEN1): This hereditary syndrome can increase risk of developing tumours in three glands - pancreas, parathyroid and pituitary. This syndrome passed on from an infected parent whose gene’s (MEN1) have developed changes. Hence, individuals who have a known family history of this syndrome must consult with doctors.
• Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia, Type IV (MEN4): Individuals having this syndrome are at greater risk of developing pituitary tumours. Changes in a gene called CDKN1B causes this genetic syndrome.
• Carney Complex: This rare syndrome can cause heart, skin and adrenal issues and raise risks of different types of tumours, including pituitary tumours. Changes in gene PRKAR1A and other unidentifiable genes primarily cause this syndrome.

The genetic syndrome mentioned above can cause different types of pituitary tumours.

Following is a list of different types of pituitary tumour -

• Non-functional Adenomas (Null Cell Adenomas): These are the most common type of pituitary tumour that does not produce excessive hormones. Until pituitary tumours reach a certain size, individuals cannot feel any symptoms. However, larger pituitary tumours can severely impact normal pituitary cells, causing low hormone production.
• Prolactin-producing Tumours (Prolactinomas): These constitute a common type of pituitary tumour that produces excessive prolactin. Increased levels of prolactin in women can result in irregular menstruation or even menopause. Men, who develop this type of tumour, can have erectile dysfunction or feel lower sexual urges.
• Growth Hormone-producing Tumours: As the name suggests, growth hormone-producing tumours produce too many growth hormones. In children, this type can lead to within all bones in the body causing gigantism. In adults, this type of pituitary tumour can cause a medical condition called acromegaly.
• ACTH-producing Tumours: ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) triggers the adrenal gland to produce steroids (called glucocorticoids) that impacts metabolism. This condition reduces bodily inflammations and also slows down the immune system.

The primary reasons which cause these tumours are still unknown to doctors. However, they have been able to establish the fact that some gene mutations passed (discussed earlier) on from one generation to another, which can increase the risk of developing pituitary tumours.

The main causes of pituitary tumours may be unclear to doctors, but the subsequent symptoms of some pituitary tumours are apparent and identifiable. Read on to know about pituitary tumour symptoms.

While some pituitary tumours result in visible symptoms, there are other types that cannot be easily identified. Tumours of master gland producing functioning hormones can cause a wide range of symptoms based on the produced hormone level.

On the other hand, pituitary tumours producing non-functioning hormones are highly linked to their growth and the pressure they put on other body parts. The different sizes of tumours (and the pressure created) have different effects on the normal pituitary gland and nearby organs.

1. Symptoms as per Tumour Pressure

Due to different levels of tumour pressure, individuals can experience the signs and symptoms mentioned below -

• Vision loss, especially loss of peripheral vision
• Headache

2. Symptoms as per Hormone Level Changes

Low hormone levels can cause the following symptoms -

• Feeling cold
• Irregular or no menstrual periods
• High amount of urine
• Sexual dysfunction
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weakness
• Unusual weight loss or gain

Conversely, excessive levels of hormones can be produced due to functioning tumours. Different variants of this tumour can result in particular signs and symptoms or a combination of them. For better understanding, the signs of functioning tumours are segregated as per their type.

ACTH-producing tumours cause Cushing Syndrome, which results from adrenal glands producing excessive amounts of a hormone called cortisol.

The signs of Cushing Syndrome are mentioned below -

• Fat build-up around your midsection and upper back
• Thinning of legs and arms coupled with muscle weakness
• Hypertension
• High blood sugar
• Acne
• Increased level of facial roundness
• Weaker bones
• Bruising
• Purple stretch marks
• Irritability or depression

The signs related to Prolactin-producing tumours differ in men and women.

Symptoms of Pituitary Tumour In Women

A high amount of prolactin can lower normal levels of sex hormones, i.e., oestrogen in women causing the following symptoms -

• Lack of menstrual periods
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Milky discharge from breasts even when one is not pregnant or nursing.
• Enlarged breasts.

Symptoms of Pituitary Tumour In Men

Pituitary tumour symptoms in men (especially those who are suffering from prolactin-producing tumours) can result in hypogonadism.

The signs and symptoms mentioned below -

• Erectile dysfunction
• Breast growth
• Low sperm count
• Loss of libido

Pituitary tumour symptoms in adults in case Growth hormone-producing tumours differ from children. Symptoms of both age groups are listed below,

Symptoms of Pituitary Tumour In Adults

In adults, growth hormone-producing tumours cause acromegaly, which causes the following symptoms -

• Change in facial features due to abnormal growth of facial bones
• Enlarged hands and feet
• Unusual growth of skull
• Excess sweating
• Deepened voice
• High blood sugar
• Heart issues
• Joint pain
• Misaligned teeth with wide spacing due to growth in facial bones
• Increased body hair
• Snoring
• Impaired glucose tolerance

Symptoms of Pituitary Tumour In Children

Children and adolescents with growth hormone-producing tumours may grow faster and taller than other children of the same age.

By now, it must be clear what the signs and symptoms of pituitary tumours are!

Therefore, if someone asks, ‘how do people know if they have a pituitary tumour’, you can answer readily.

Now, let’s focus on the next section and see how the different types of Pituitary tumors are diagnosed and treated.

Similar to carcinoid tumours, the symptoms of pituitary tumours are often found while treating other diseases.

However, to diagnose especially the symptoms of pituitary tumours, doctors can follow the process mentioned below -

• Brain imaging (CT scan or MRI)
• Biopsy
• Blood Tests
• Urine Tests
• Vision Testing

After diagnosing a pituitary tumour, doctors can recommend treatment accordingly. The following section focuses on different pituitary tumour treatment options.

1. Treatment of Non-functional Pituitary Tumour

Large Tumour

• Surgery 
• Radiation therapy

Incidentalomas (Small Pituitary Tumours)

• Observation
• Physical exercise

2. Treatment of Functional Pituitary Tumour

Here are the different treatment processes for different types of functional or hormone-making tumour -

Treating Prolactin-producing Tumours (Prolactinomas)

• Observation
• Medication
• Surgery (in special cases)

Treating ACTH-producing Tumours

• Surgery
• Radiation therapy with medication
• Removal of both adrenal glands (if surgery and radiation therapy does not work)

Treating Growth Hormone-producing Tumours

• Surgery
• Medication
• Radiation therapy

Individuals wondering if a tumour on the pituitary gland can be removed now know that surgery is the best treatment for some pituitary tumours, while others can be treated with proper observation and medication.

The risk of several types of tumours, cancerous or non-cancerous, can be reduced by maintaining a healthy lifestyle or quitting tobacco smoking. However, in case of a pituitary tumour, there are no active external reasons for developing these diseases. Hence, no such preventive measures can be taken for tumours on the ‘master gland’.

From the above discourse, you can learn a great deal about Pituitary tumours, their various signs and symptoms, treatment methods and other details. However, reasons and prevention methods are unclear, which highly points to a genetic disease. This is why you must learn if such genetic syndrome is present in the family medical history and talk to doctors and follow guidelines accordingly.