Your pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland at the base of your brain. The pituitary is the "master control gland" - it makes hormones that affect growth and the functions of other glands in the body.
Injuries can cause pituitary disorders, but the most common cause is a pituitary tumor. About 1 in 10,000 people get them. They grow slowly, do not spread and are usually not cancerous. The most common type of pituitary tumor produces hormones and disrupts the balance of hormones in your body. This can cause endocrine disorders such as Cushing's syndrome and hyperthyroidism.
Symptoms of pituitary tumors include
- Headaches
- Vision problems
- Nausea and vomiting
- Any of the problems caused by the production of too many hormones
Pituitary tumors are usually curable. Treatment is often surgery to remove the tumor. Other options include medicines and radiation.
- Pituitary Gland Disorders Overview(Hormone Foundation) - http://www.hormone.org/Pituitary/overview.cfm
- Pituitary FAQs(Pituitary Network Association) - http://www.pituitary.org/faq/
- ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic Hormone) Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/acth/test.html
- Aldosterone and Renin Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/aldosterone/test.html
- FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/fsh/test.html
- Growth Hormone(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/growth_hormone/test.html
- How Are Pituitary Tumors Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_how_are_pituitary_tumors_diagnosed_61.asp?sitearea=cri
- IGF-1 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor -1) Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/igf1/test.html
- LH (Luteinizing Hormone) Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/lh/test.html
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MRI of the Head(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=headmr
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=headmr
- Frequently Asked Questions about Transsphenoidal Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas - A Patient Guide(Pituitary Network Association) - http://www.pituitary.org/disorders/frequently_asked_questions_about_transsphenoidal_surgery_for_pituitary_adenomas_a_patient_guide.aspx
- Gamma-knife Radiosurgery(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/gamma-knife-radiosurgery/MY00206/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Growth Hormone Therapy - Questions(MAGIC Foundation) - http://www.magicfoundation.org/www/docs/11.835/growth_hormone_questions_children-short-small-shots.html
- How Are Pituitary Tumors Treated?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_4x_how_are_pituitary_tumors_treated_61.asp?sitearea=cri
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Pituitary Tumors (PDQ): Treatment
(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/pituitary/patient/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/pituitaria/patient/
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Acromegaly(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/acro/acro.htm
- Adult Growth Hormone (GH) Deficiency(Pituitary Network Association) - http://www.pituitary.org/disorders/gh_deficiency.aspx
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Empty Sella Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/emptysella/emptysella.htm
- Endocrine-Inactive (Non-functional) Tumors(Pituitary Network Association) - http://www.pituitary.org/disorders/non-functioning_tumors.aspx
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Galactorrhea(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/reproductive/breast/673.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/women/reproductive/breast/673.printerview.html
- Gonadotroph Adenomas and Other Non-Functioning Adenomas(UpToDate) - http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=~IWsWcUgJC_GU9i
- Hypopituitarism(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/hypopituitarism/DS00479/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Pituicytoma(Pituitary Network Association) - http://www.pituitary.org/disorders/Pituicytoma.aspx
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Pituitary Tumors(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/pituitary_tumors/pituitary_tumors.htm
- Pituitary: Non-Secretory Tumors(Hormone Foundation) - http://www.hormone.org/Pituitary/non-secretory.cfm
- Pituitary: Secretory Tumors(Hormone Foundation) - http://www.hormone.org/Pituitary/secretory.cfm
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Prolactinoma(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/prolact/prolact.htm
- Rathkes Cysts(Pituitary Network Association) - http://www.pituitary.org/disorders/rathkes_cleft_cysts.aspx
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Septo-Optic Dysplasia(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/septo_optic_dysplasia/septo_optic_dysplasia.htm
- TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) Secreting Tumor(Pituitary Network Association) - http://www.pituitary.org/disorders/tsh_secreting_tumors.aspx
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What Is an Endocrinologist?(Hormone Foundation) - http://www.hormone.org/public/endocrinologist.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.hormone.org/Spanish/que_es_un_endocrinologo.cfm
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Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Hypophysectomy(OR-Live) - Requires Flash Player - One hour program - 12/13/2007 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/nlm-flash/mof_1984/rnh.cfm?id=678
- Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - 5/23/2006 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=293
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Transnasal Endoscopic Surgery for Skull-Based Tumors(OR-Live) - Requires Flash Player - One hour program - 5/08/2008 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/nlm-flash/seh_2235/rnh.cfm?id=734
- Atlas of the Body: The Endocrine System(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZW5TZ46JC&sub_cat=514
- Endocrine System(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/endocrine.html
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Acromegaly(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Acromegaly%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Pituitary Diseases(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Pituitary+Diseases%22
- Do We Know What Causes Pituitary Tumors?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_2x_do_we_know_what_causes_pituitary_tumors_61.asp?sitearea=cri
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: An update on treatment strategies for acromegaly. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18710352&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Pituitary volume in psychosis: the first review of the evidence. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18709702&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Adverse effects of prolactin in rodents and humans: breast and... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18709700&tool=MedlinePlus
- Pituitary Disorders -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=pituitary+diseases[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Pituitary Network Association Glossary(Pituitary Network Association) - http://www.pituitary.org/glossary/
- AACE Physician Finder(American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists) - http://www.aace.com/resources/memsearch.php
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Directory of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Organizations(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/resources/organizations.htm
- Find an Endocrinologist(Hormone Foundation) - http://www.hormone.org/findanendo/
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National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/
- Pituitary Network Association - http://www.pituitary.org/
- What Are the Key Statistics about Pituitary Tumors?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_are_the_key_statistics_for_pituitary_tumors_61.asp?sitearea=&level=
- Craniopharyngioma(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site2129/mainpageS2129P0.html
- Hypopituitarism(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1133/mainpageS1133P0.html
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Pituitary Tumors in Children(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pituitary_tumors_in_children.cfm
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Endocrine System(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/body_basics/endocrine.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/cuerpo/endocrine_esp.html
- Sheehan's Syndrome(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/sheehans-syndrome/DS00889/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Brain and Nerves - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/brainandnerves.html
- Endocrine System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/endocrinesystem.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Pituitary Disorders is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/