Diseases

Pituitary adenomas are mostly benign tumors that originate from the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the skull and under the brain. The pituitary gland is a 1 cm sized organ located at the bottom of the brain, behind the eyes and is responsible for hormone production. The pituitary gland is a central and vital organ that secretes many hormones in our body and provides the body's water balance.

Tumors arising from this gland give symptoms either due to excess hormone secretion or due to excessive growth, compression and spread to surrounding tissues. Adenomas that do not secrete hormones usually grow slowly and may remain asymptomatic for years. Hormone-secreting ones, on the other hand, give early symptoms due to the effects of hormones in the body.

How Common Are They?

Pituitary adenomas rank 3rd among all tumors located in the head, after those arising from the brain itself and its membranes. In other words, it is a relatively common tumor. The reasons for its occurrence are not fully understood. They are rarely seen together with genetically inherited hereditary diseases.

What are the Complaints of Patients?

Pituitary adenomas cause complaints either according to the type of hormone they secrete or because the tumor grows too large and puts pressure on the surrounding tissues. The pituitary gland secretes various types of hormones with various effects and these types of adenomas produce symptoms according to the effect of the excess hormone secreted.

If the hormone that provides milk formation (prolactin) is secreted excessively, it causes symptoms such as milk coming from the breast and menstrual disorders in women. In men, conditions such as decreased sexual power, decreased beard growth and breast enlargement may occur. Patients with high prolactin secretion may not have children if left untreated.

If growth hormone is over-secreted, symptoms such as enlargement of the hands, feet and tongue, excessive snoring, breathing problems, diabetes and high blood pressure may occur.

If cortisol is over-secreted, there are severe symptoms such as excess body fat, skin rashes, treatment-resistant diabetes and high blood pressure.

In addition, some patients may develop headaches that radiate to the eyes and neck as the pituitary tumor grows and stretches the meninges. If the tumor presses on the optic nerve, visual disturbances may occur. The most typical visual impairment is the inability to see clearly on both sides. In extremely large tumors, this may progress to blindness.

Pituitary adenomas that do not secrete hormones can cause a decrease in all pituitary hormones as they crush normal pituitary tissue. In this case, patients may experience symptoms of hormone deficiency such as weakness, fatigue, low blood pressure, dry skin and decreased sexual potency.  Rarely, pituitary adenoma can bleed and sometimes cause sudden loss of vision. This requires emergency surgical treatment.