What are the symptoms of pituitary tumors?
Pituitary tumors that produce hormones are called functioning tumors. Tumors that don't produce hormones are known as nonfunctioning pituitary tumors. The signs and symptoms of a functioning pituitary tumor result from excessive or insufficient hormone production, or from pressure of the tumor on surrounding tissues. Different types of functioning tumors can
develop in your pituitary gland, each causing specific signs and symptoms:
ACTH-producing tumor - This tumor produces symptoms of Cushing's disease, a condition caused by prolonged overproduction of adrenal glucocorticoids and androgens. Symptoms of Cushing's disease include obesity that is most noticeable on the trunk of the body, thin skin, easy bruising, red or purple lines (striae) on the skin of the abdomen, a moon-shaped face, muscle wasting, excess body hair in women, acne, absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea), and psychiatric symptoms, especially depression. Cushing's disease also can trigger osteoporosis, high blood pressure, (hypertension) and diabetes.
Prolactin-producing tumor - In women, this tumor occasionally causes a woman who is not pregnant or nursing to produce breast milk, a condition called galactorrhea. Much more often, it causes absent periods (amenorrhea). In men, it causes impotence, decreased sex drive, thinning of the beard, and decreased body hair. If the tumor enlarges beyond the sella turcica, it also can cause one or more of the following: a general decrease in vision, a loss of vision in only one or two visual fields, eye muscle paralysis, and headache.
Growth hormone-producing tumor - If this tumor develops before puberty, then the child typically has the following symptoms of giantism (also called gigantism): abnormally rapid growth, unusually tall stature, a very large head, coarse facial features, very large hands and feet, and, sometimes, behavioral and visual problems. If the tumor develops after puberty, then the adult patient has the following symptoms of acromegaly: thick, oily skin, coarse features with thick lips and a broad nose, prominent cheekbones, a protruding forehead and lower jaw, a deep voice, enlargement of the hands and feet, a barrel-shaped chest, excessive sweating, and pain and stiffness in the joints.
Nonfunctioning pituitary tumor - These tumors usually are diagnosed because they have enlarged beyond the sella turcica and are causing pressure on the optic nerves and brain. The most common symptoms include a general decrease in vision, a loss of vision in only one or two visual fields, eye muscle paralysis, and headache. These tumors can cause partial or complete deficiency of pituitary hormones. |
