Pituitary tumor: the earlier it is detected, the higher the chance of rapid cure

The pituitary gland is an important organ that helps control overall hormonal balance, allowing the body to function normally. However, when the body shows abnormal symptoms without cause, such as severe headache, decreased vision, seizures, milk discharge despite not being pregnant, an abnormally large body size compared to others, etc., these symptoms may be caused by a “pituitary tumor,” which should be promptly diagnosed and treated as soon as possible so that the body’s systems can return to normal function again.

Key Takeaways

• The pituitary gland is an important organ of the endocrine system. It produces many types of hormones and functions under the control of the hypothalamus (Hypothalamus).

• A pituitary tumor is an abnormality of a group of pituitary cells. There are both hormone-producing types and non–hormone-producing types.

• Symptoms of a pituitary tumor depend on the type and size of the tumor. If it is a hormone-producing tumor, hormone levels will be higher than normal, and if it is a large tumor, it may cause compression of surrounding organs.

• Treatment of a pituitary tumor depends on the symptoms. It can be treated with medication and surgery. In cases without abnormal symptoms, treatment is not necessary.

The pituitary gland, an extremely important organ of the endocrine system that the body must have

The pituitary gland (Pituitary Gland) is a small organ approximately the size of a pea, located at the base of the brain in the middle of the head, near the back of the nasal bridge and behind the eyes. It is part of the endocrine system. It functions to produce and secrete hormones to control various functions in the body, and also functions to command other endocrine glands to produce and secrete hormones as well.

The pituitary gland has 2 parts: the anterior pituitary and the posterior pituitary, each with different functions as follows:

Anterior Pituitary

The anterior pituitary is the part that produces and secretes various types of hormones, including hormones that control the function of other endocrine glands (Tropic Hormone) and hormones that directly affect the body (Peptide Hormone), as follows:

• Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH): stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormone

• Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen and stimulates egg development in females, or stimulates sperm production in males

• Luteinizing Hormone (LH): stimulates ovulation in females or stimulates testosterone production in males

• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ATCH): stimulates the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol (Cortisol)

• Growth Hormone (GH): controls body growth

• Prolactin: controls the production and secretion of milk in pregnant women

The production of these hormones is stimulated or inhibited under the control of the hypothalamus through chemical substances that directly communicate to the pituitary gland.

Posterior Pituitary

The posterior pituitary functions to store and release hormones produced by the hypothalamus, which are of 2 types as follows:

• Vasopressin or Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH): functions to control water and electrolyte balance in the body

• Oxytocin: affects uterine contractions for childbirth and also affects milk production

Pituitary tumor: an abnormality that disrupts the balance of the endocrine system

A pituitary tumor (Pituitary Tumor) is an abnormality of a group of cells in the pituitary gland area, causing the physical structure of the pituitary gland to have an excess group of cells. Generally, pituitary tumors are usually not malignant, and sometimes pituitary tumors may not affect health at all, but they can affect the function of many systems in the body depending on the type and size of the pituitary tumor.

Pituitary tumors can be divided into 2 types:

• Hormone-producing pituitary tumor: this type of tumor directly affects hormone production by increasing hormone levels, causing the body to function abnormally

• Non–hormone-producing pituitary tumor: this type does not affect hormone levels in the body, but tumor growth may compress brain tissue and affect nearby nervous systems

What symptoms can a pituitary tumor cause?

Abnormalities caused by a pituitary tumor depend on the type and size of the tumor. The symptoms that may be found are as follows:

Abnormal symptoms affecting the endocrine system

Caused by hormone-producing pituitary tumors that increase hormone levels above normal. The abnormalities depend on the type of hormone that the tumor increases, for example:

• The thyroid gland produces excessive thyroid hormone, causing hyperthyroidism, resulting in weight loss, easy sweating, rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, heat intolerance, irritability, etc.

• Abnormal reproductive system such as irregular menstruation, sexual dysfunction, infertility, etc.

• Excessive growth: in children, it causes a much larger and taller body than normal; in adults, it causes enlarged hands and feet

• Cushing’s syndrome due to excessive cortisol, causing central obesity, round face, thin skin, hair loss, etc.

• Milk discharge even without pregnancy

• Abnormal water and electrolyte balance causing diabetes insipidus

Abnormal symptoms affecting nearby organs

A large pituitary tumor will compress surrounding organs and may cause the brain tumor to press on nerves, resulting in symptoms such as:

• Severe headache

• Facial numbness, abnormal eye movement

• Abnormal vision such as blurred vision, double vision, blurry images, narrowed visual field

Often, patients do not know that they have a pituitary tumor because there are no obvious abnormal symptoms, or there are some symptoms but they do not significantly affect daily life, so detailed diagnosis is not performed.

Diagnosis of pituitary abnormalities

Pituitary abnormalities present as hormonal abnormalities or visual disturbances not caused by the eyes. Diagnosis can be performed by the following methods:

• Hormone level testing to determine whether hormone levels in the body are higher or lower than normal

• Radiologic examination such as computed tomography (CT Scan) to observe the characteristics of the pituitary gland and whether there is a tumor, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to observe details inside the tumor and the compression of the tumor on surrounding nerves

Treatment approaches for pituitary tumors

Treatment of pituitary tumors depends on the type and size of the tumor. In cases where the tumor is very small and does not affect hormone production, treatment is not necessary; regular monitoring is sufficient.

If the pituitary tumor is a hormone-producing type, treatment depends on the type of abnormal hormone. For example, high Prolactin causing abnormal milk discharge can be treated with medication without surgery.

However, if the pituitary tumor causes abnormal hormone production and results in significant abnormal symptoms, cannot be treated with medication, or the tumor is large and compresses adjacent organs, surgery may be required to correct the problem at its cause. Surgical methods include open craniotomy and transnasal surgery to the skull base, and the method used depends on the location of the pituitary tumor.

Detection of a pituitary tumor: no need to worry, it can be completely treated

The pituitary gland, in addition to producing and secreting hormones itself, also serves as the command center of the endocrine system that controls the production and secretion of hormones of other endocrine glands. If abnormalities occur, hormone levels in the body may become abnormal and affect overall function. Monitoring symptoms and undergoing regular health check-ups will help increase the chance of early detection of pituitary tumors and allow prompt treatment.

The Neurology Center, Phra Ram 9 Hospital, is ready to provide diagnostic services with modern technological equipment by specialist physicians to ensure accurate and precise assessment and diagnosis, leading to targeted treatment, so that patients receive standardized, safe services and return to good health again.

For more information

Facebook : Praram 9 Hospital International & Expats

Line : @Praram9Hospital

Tel. 1270

Frequently asked questions about the pituitary gland

1. What is the function of the pituitary gland?

The pituitary gland functions to produce hormones and send them to various parts through the bloodstream to control the functions of different parts of the body.

2. Does a pituitary tumor require surgery?

A pituitary tumor does not require surgery in cases where the tumor is small and is a non–hormone-producing type that does not affect overall health.

References

About the Pituitary Gland. (n.d.). Barrow Neurological Institute. https://www.barrowneuro.org/resource/about-the-pituitary-gland/

Pituitary Gland. (2022, April 4). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21459-pituitary-gland

Pituitary gland and hormones. (n.d.). Healthdirect. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/pituitary-gland