Endocrine Disorders and Therapies

Pituitary Disorders and Pituitary Tumors

The most frequent type of pituitary disorder is a pituitary gland tumor. These tumors are fairly common in adults. They are not brain tumors and are almost always benign. Not all pituitary tumors cause symptoms. Pituitary tumors that make hormones can cause a variety of signs and symptoms depending on the hormone they produce. The signs and symptoms of pituitary tumors that don't make hormones are related to their growth and the pressure they put on other structures.

The pituitary is the "master control gland" - it makes hormones that affect growth and the functions of other glands in the body. With pituitary disorders, you often have too much or too little of one of your hormones. Injuries can cause pituitary disorders, but the most common cause is a pituitary tumor. Pituitary gland disorders can affect many different parts of the body.  Conditions such as acromegaly, Cushing's syndrome, hypothyroidism, and hypogonadism all may result from pituitary gland disease.