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Symptoms of pituitary tumors

Symptoms of pituitary tumors and how to diagnose

Symptoms of pituitary tumors

People with pituitary tumors show a variety of symptoms depending on the situation. Let’s learn about the symptoms of pituitary tumors in this article.

Symptoms of pituitary tumors

Not all pituitary tumors cause symptoms, but when they do, they can cause many different symptoms, including:

  • Symptoms of functional pituitary tumors

Functional pituitary tumors increase the production of some hormones depending on their type, so the symptoms of pituitary tumors vary according to the type of hormone manufactured as follows:

1. Symptoms of growth hormone-secreting pituitary tumors

Growth hormone is responsible for the way it grows and how it uses sugar and fat, and therefore its increased secretion may cause many problems, including the following:

  • Babies grow much longer than usual in what is called gigantism.
  • The growth of the bones of the face, hand and foot in adults in a condition called acromegaly .
  • heart problems
  • High blood sugar.
  • pain in the joints.
  • increased sweating;

2. Symptoms of adrenocorticotropic pituitary tumors

High levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone increase the production of cortisol from the adrenal glands, causing Cushing’s syndrome, which is associated with the following symptoms:

  • Unexplained weight gain, often in the face, chest, and abdomen.
  • Purple stretch marks on the chest or abdomen.
  • Increased body hair growth.
  • acne.
  • Fat accumulation in the back of the neck.
  • moody or depressed
  • a headache.
  • vision changes.
  • bruising;
  • Increase diabetes level in the blood.
  • high blood pressure.
  • Bone weakness.

3. Symptoms of TSH-secreting pituitary tumors

When a pituitary gland tumor secretes excessive thyroid-stimulating hormone, it increases the production of thyroid hormone, causing hyperthyroidism, which leads to an acceleration of the metabolism in the body, and thus the emergence of the following symptoms:

  • Fast or irregular heartbeat.
  • Weight loss.
  • nervousness or irritability;
  • Frequent defecation.
  • Excessive sweating.

4. Symptoms of Prolactin-secreting Pituitary Tumors

High levels of prolactin may generally cause the following symptoms:

  • Symptoms in women: It causes less or no menstrual periods. High levels of prolactin can also lead to abnormal production of breast milk.
  • Symptoms in men: High levels of prolactin can cause breast growth and erectile dysfunction.
  • Symptoms in both men and women include loss of libido, infertility, and osteoporosis.

5. Symptoms of Gonadotropin-Secreting Pituitary Tumors

These tumors make luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), but they are usually not high enough to cause symptoms.

But in rare cases, it can cause infertility and irregular periods in women.

  • Symptoms of large pituitary tumors

Large pituitary tumors larger than 1 centimeter in size can put pressure on the surrounding area, which can cause the following problems:

1. Symptoms of pituitary tumors caused by pressure on the nerves

Pressure on nerves near the tumor or parts of the brain can lead to symptoms such as:

  • Weakness in the eye muscles, so that the eyes do not move in the same direction at the same time.
  • Blurred or double vision.
  • Peripheral vision loss.
  • Sudden blindness .
  • Unconsciousness.
  • headache;
  • Facial numbness or pain.
  • Dizziness.

2. Symptoms of pituitary tumors caused by pressure on the pituitary gland

These tumors can press on and destroy the normal parts of the pituitary gland, causing a deficiency of one or more pituitary hormones. Symptoms vary according to the affected hormones, but may generally include the following:

  • Breast growth, lack of facial hair, and difficulty erections in men.
  • Decreased menstrual periods or no breast milk in women.
  • feeling cold.
  • Delayed growth and sexual development of children.
  • Low sex drive.
  • vomiting;
  • upset stomach;
  • Weight changes.

Methods for diagnosing pituitary tumors

The doctor looks at the patient’s symptoms and medical history and performs a physical examination. He or she may also do the following tests:

  1. Eye exams to see if the tumor is affecting vision.
  2. A neurological exam to test how the brain, spinal cord and nerves are working.
  3. Blood and urine tests to check hormone levels.
  4. CT scan or MRI to look for any possible tumor.

When should you visit the doctor?

Consult a doctor in the following cases:

  • The appearance of any of the signs and symptoms of pituitary tumors. Pituitary tumors can often be treated to restore the level of hormones to their normal state and relieve symptoms.
  • If there are multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 cases in the family, you should consult your doctor about regular checkups that can contribute to early detection of pituitary adenoma.

source : wikipedia

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