Pituitary Tumors

Summary

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.

Pituitary tumors are common, but often they don’t cause health problems. Most people with pituitary tumors never even know they have them. The most common type of pituitary tumor produces hormones and disrupts the balance of hormones in your body. This can cause endocrine diseases such as Cushing’s syndrome and hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms of pituitary tumors include:

• Headaches
• Vision problems
• Nausea and vomiting
• 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, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

National Cancer Institute

Start Here

• About Pituitary Tumors Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• General Information about Pituitary Tumors National Cancer Institute
• Pituitary Tumors Endocrine Society
• Pituitary Tumors National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• What Are Pituitary Tumors? American Cancer Society

Encyclopedia

• ACTH blood test Medical Encyclopedia
• Head MRI Medical Encyclopedia
• Pituitary gland Medical Encyclopedia
• Pituitary infarction Medical Encyclopedia
• Stereotactic radiosurgery – discharge Medical Encyclopedia

Diagnosis and Tests

• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) National Library of Medicine
• Growth Hormone Tests National Library of Medicine
• Head MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Radiological Society of North America
• IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1) Test National Library of Medicine
• Prolactin Levels National Library of Medicine
• Stages of Pituitary Tumors National Cancer Institute
• Tests for Pituitary Tumors American Cancer Society
• TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone) test National Library of Medicine

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Pituitary Neoplasms National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Prolactinoma National Institutes of Health

Patient Handouts

• Craniopharyngioma Medical Encyclopedia
• Pituitary tumor Medical Encyclopedia
• Prolactin blood test Medical Encyclopedia
• Prolactinoma Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• Find an Endocrinologist Endocrine Society
• National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Genetics

• Familial isolated pituitary adenoma: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Risk Factors for Pituitary Tumors American Cancer Society

Children

• General Information about Childhood Craniopharyngioma National Cancer Institute
• Stages of Childhood Craniopharyngioma National Cancer Institute
• Treatment Option Overview (Childhood Craniopharyngioma) National Cancer Institute

Statistics and Research

• Key Statistics about Pituitary Tumors American Cancer Society

Related Issues

• Living as a Pituitary Tumor Survivor American Cancer Society

Treatments and Therapies

• Pituitary Tumors Treatment National Cancer Institute
• Treatment Option Overview (Pituitary Tumors) National Cancer Institute

Specifics

• Prolactinoma National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Journal Articles

• Pituitary Tumors

Symptoms

• What Are the Symptoms of Pituitary Tumors? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development