A pituitary tumor is often a mass of cells that grow on the pituitary gland. Some of these pituitary tumors secrete hormones and some do not. In general, pituitary tumors are benign and are slow growing in nature, and cancers in pituitary are extremely rare. These benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body, so the chances of developing secondary tumors are not likely. Pituitary tumor symptoms may have different causes. If the pituitary tumor is secreting a hormone, then high levels of that particular hormone may be present in the bloodstream. If the normal gland function of the pituitary has been affected due to tumor, then there may be a deficiency in any one or more of these pituitary hormones.
There could also be some pituitary tumor symptoms caused by the growth or ‘mass effect’, due to the resulting pressure of the tumor on the surrounding structures.
Possible pituitary tumor symptoms include persistent headaches, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, light-headedness upon standing, changes in the appearance, visual disturbances such as a loss of peripheral vision or rarely double vision, running or dripping nose due to the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain into the nose, seizures, dizziness, cognitive difficulties including problems in thinking, menstrual irregularities in women and loss of libido or erectile dysfunction in men
Different types of pituitary tumors include various symptoms associated with them and they include:
- Growth hormone-producing tumor
- Prolactin-producing tumor
- ACTH-producing tumor
- Thyroid –producing tumor
- Non-functioning pituitary tumor.
Growth Hormone-producing Tumor
Growth hormone producing tumor secretes growth hormones. Too much secretion of growth hormone makes certain body parts such as the face, hands and the feet to enlarge and thicken considerably. This condition is often termed as acromegaly or gigantism if it happens before growth stops during teenage years.
The cardiovascular changes that are caused by the high levels of this growth hormone can prove to be fatal if untreated. This condition also enhances the risk of bowel polyps and cancer.
This type of GH producing tumor symptoms includes:
- headache
- some degree of loss of vision
- Acromegaly in adults and the whole body may grow in children than normal.
- Feeling of tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers.
- Snoring or pauses in breathing during sleep.
- Painful joints.
- Excessive sweating.
- Dysmorphophobia which is the extreme dislike of or concern about one or more areas of the body.
Prolactin-producing Tumor
This type of pituitary tumor secretes prolactin, the hormone that increases naturally during pregnancy and after childbirth to stimulate the milk production. A woman with prolactin-producing tumor, which is often termed as prolactinoma, may have irregular or no menstrual periods and her breasts may produce milk, even in the absence of pregnancy.
This type of pituitary tumor symptoms include
- Loss of libido and erectile dysfunction among men
- Impotence in men
- Headache
- Loss of vision to some extends because of the enlarged pituitary pressing against the eye nerves nearby
- In women, less frequent or absence of menstrual periods or irregular menstrual periods
- Painful intercourse in women because of vaginal dryness
- Inability to become pregnant or trouble becoming pregnant among women
- The flow of breast milk in women who are not pregnant or breast-feeding
ACTH-producing Tumor
This type of pituitary tumor secretes adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) hormone, which makes the adrenal glands, which is situated above the kidneys, to produce greater than normal quantities of cortisol. This excessive cortisol secretion causes a disorder called Cushing’s syndrome.
This type of ACTH producing pituitary tumor symptoms includes:
- High levels of blood sugar in the body
- Fat build-up on the face which makes a ‘moon face’ appearance and also fat build-up n the abdomen and upper back
- Reddened, flushed face
- Hypertension (high Blood pressure)
- Wasting of muscles in the arms and legs
- Stretch marks on the skin which are purple in color
- Osteoporosis
- Easy bruising and thinning of skin
- Skin problems like acne
- Depression, anxiety and irritability
Thyroid-producing Tumor
This type of thyroid producing tumor induces the thyroid gland to secrete more quantities of the hormone thyroxin. This causes hyperthyroidism and accelerates the body’s metabolism.
This type of thyroid producing pituitary tumor symptoms includes:
- An enlarged thyroid in front of the neck
- Sudden weight loss
- Thyrotoxicosis, which means heat intolerance
- Irregular or rapid heart beat
- Irritability and nervousness
- Shakiness
- Trouble sleeping
- Excessive sweating
- Frequent bowel movements
Pituitary tumors that decrease the secretion of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone can also affect a person in many other ways, including problems in concentration, constipation, tiredness, dry skin and sensitivity to extreme temperatures. It may also cause some girls to have irregular periods or they may not menstruate at all.
Non-functioning Pituitary Tumor
This type of pituitary tumor generally does not secrete any hormones, but the symptoms are caused by the deficiency in the normal pituitary hormones because the tumor restricts the normal functioning of the gland or due to the pressure on the surrounding structures that are situated near the pituitary gland.
Some of the non-functioning pituitary tumor symptoms include:
- General fatigue and a feeling of unwell
- Continuous headaches
- Irregular menstrual cycle among women
- Loss of peripheral vision
- Decreased sexual drive among men
Most of the tumors that develop in the pituitary gland are benign and slow growing, and the chances of pituitary cancers are extremely rare. Some of the pituitary tumors secrete hormones and some do not. The general signs and symptoms of pituitary tumor may include headaches, nausea, irregular menstrual period, less sexual drive among men and visual disturbances such as double vision. The pituitary tumor symptoms discussed are not always the sure signs of a pituitary tumor. There are also other conditions that can cause these symptoms. People experiencing any of these possible symptoms of pituitary tumor, can often are treated effectively using drug therapy, surgery or radiation therapy.
