The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain just behind the nose, and its size does not exceed the size of a pea. However, despite its small size, the pituitary gland is considered an essential part of the endocrine system, which is the system responsible for secreting hormones.
The pituitary gland secretes a number of hormones that act independently, such as: growth hormone, and prolactin. It is also responsible for secreting a number of hormones that affect other glands, such as: the thyroid gland, the adrenal gland, the testicles, and the ovaries.
There are hardly any systems and organs in the human body that are not affected by the functioning of the pituitary gland, as it affects blood pressure, weight, growth, the reproductive system, and other systems.
The majority of tumors that affect the pituitary gland are benign tumors, meaning they are tumors that do not invade nearby layers and do not metastasize to distant organs. There are several ways to treat the gland and its tumors, starting from the use of drugs that can control their growth and development, ending with the removable of the tumor itself.
Symptoms of Pituitary Tumors
Some symptoms of pituitary tumors appear due to the pressure the tumor causes on the surrounding area, consequently leading to pressures and disturbances in the secretion of other hormones, or due to the effect on the hormonal system through the secretion of unwanted hormones.
· Symptoms include the following:
· Headaches.
· Loss of a part of the visual field.
· Nausea and vomiting.
· Fatigue.
· Weakness.
· Loss of the ability to tolerate cold.
· Constipation.
· Low blood pressure.
· Hair loss.
Decline in sexual abilities.
Unwanted changes in body weight.
Causes and Risk Factors of Pituitary Tumors
The cause of out-of-control growth in pituitary gland cells remains unknown. Although a number of genes have been discovered in family members with a tendency for the growth of such tumors, in the majority of cases it does not involve a familial genetic factor.
Complications of Pituitary Tumors
Pituitary tumors do not tend to grow significantly or metastasize to other organs, but they may lead to the appearance of the following complications:
1. Vision loss
The pituitary gland is located exactly at the meeting point of the optic nerves; therefore, the pressure caused by the tumor on the optic nerves can lead to a defect in their performance and to the loss of a part of the visual field. It can also lead to a complete loss of vision in some severe cases.
2. Permanent hormone deficiency
The tumor or the removal of the tumor can lead to a defect in the process of secreting hormones from the pituitary gland, a matter that may necessitate receiving hormonal treatment from external sources.
3. Internal bleeding in the tumor
This condition is considered rare but highly dangerous, and may put the patient's life at risk, as bleeding inside the tumor leads to an immediate loss of vision in addition to a severe headache and an immediate loss of pituitary hormones, resulting in the following symptoms:
· Feeling dizzy.
· Inability to tolerate cold.
· Vomiting.
· Severe thirst, and fatigue.
This condition requires immediate treatment with medications and drugs, and there might even be a need to perform a surgical operation in some cases.
4. Diabetes insipidus
This condition occurs due to the presence of a very large tumor or after an unsuccessful tumor removal surgery. It leads to a defect in the secretion process of the antidiuretic hormone responsible for the absorption of water from the fluid that is excreted in the kidneys. This condition leads to the excretion of large amounts of urine, sometimes reaching 10 liters per day, which increases the chances of developing severe dehydration.
5. Hormone secretion disorders
Pituitary tumors can lead to disorders in the performance of the hormonal system, as it may begin secreting hormones without control or regulation. On the other hand, the tumor can hinder the proper secretion of hormones.
Diagnosis of Pituitary Tumors
The diagnosis of pituitary tumors depends on the following matters:
Levels of hormones and other substances in the blood or in the urine that would indicate the presence of a hormonal disorder.
Brain imaging using Computed Tomography (CT), or if possible, by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) capable of diagnosing the tumor.
Visual field test, which indicates the presence of a tumor pressing on the optic nerve.
Treatment of Pituitary Tumors
The type of treatment for pituitary tumors that one must undergo depends on several factors, including: the type of tumor, its growth speed, the patient's age, the initial tumor size, and the symptoms it causes the patient.
Usually, a working team comprising doctors from several fields makes the decisions regarding treatment. These doctors are usually from the following specialties: endocrinologist, neurologist, and neurosurgeon. Therapeutic methods include the following:
1. Treatment through surgical operations
The surgical operation to remove the tumor is performed by opening the skull to reach the tumor from above, but currently, this method is used on a very narrow scale due to the many complications it causes. An additional method that is used is transsphenoidal endoscopy of the skull base. With this method, it is possible to reach the tumor through the nose and without the need to open the skull, as this method involves a lower rate of complications, and the probability of endangering nearby parts of the brain is reduced.
2. Radiation therapy
High-energy X-rays are used in order to eliminate tumor cells. This method is used in some cases after an removal surgery in order to complete the treatment, or in cases where a surgical operation cannot be performed due to the size or location of the tumor.
3. Drug therapy
Treating the pituitary gland with medications can reduce the volume of hormone secretion from tumor cells or reduce the size of the tumor itself. These medications and drugs primarily aim to treat the gland from tumors that secrete growth hormone or prolactin hormone.
Prevention of Pituitary Tumors
There is no way to prevent the disease.