Pituitary Tumors

Pituitary tumors are abnormal growths that develop in the pituitary gland, a pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain. It’s often referred to as the master control gland because it makes hormones that affect your body’s growth and the function of other glands in the body.

Pituitary tumors can occur at any age, but are mostly found in older adults. Fortunately, most of these tumors are benign (noncancerous) tumors called pituitary adenomas. Very few pituitary tumors are malignant (cancerous).

An estimated 10,000 pituitary tumors are diagnosed in the U.S. each year, but the actual number may be much higher. In fact, doctors have found that as many as 1 out of 4 people may have a pituitary adenoma without knowing it. That’s because these tumors are small and do not cause symptoms, and are discovered only during imaging tests for another health issue.

Some pituitary tumors, however, can disrupt the balance of hormones in the body by causing the over- or underproduction of certain hormones. This can cause endocrine diseases such as Cushing’s syndrome, acromegaly (abnormal growth of the hands, feet and face), infertility, impotence, and other disorders of the central nervous and endocrine systems. These disorders can greatly compromise quality of life or even be life-threatening.

Pituitary tumors are usually curable. Treatment usually involves surgery to remove the tumor, and may also include medication, radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Early diagnosis is important in effectively treating pituitary disorders. Left untreated, some pituitary tumors can grow and compress the optic nerves, brain and the pituitary gland itself. This can cause loss of vision, impair brain function, and affect hormone production.

Because the hormonal and neurological symptoms caused by pituitary disorders may be confused with other conditions, some pituitary disorders can be difficult to diagnose. That’s why it is important to see an endocrine specialist for timely, accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Why Choose Cooper to Diagnose and Treat Pituitary Tumors

Cooper University Health Care is home to the only pituitary tumor and neuroendocrine program in the Delaware Valley. You can count on us for:

  • Specialized multidisciplinary expertise: Our board-certified physicians from neurosurgery, endocrinology, radiotherapy, neuro-ophthalmology, and pathology are respected experts in diagnosing and treating pituitary disorders.
  • Minimally invasive neuroendoscopy: Cooper is a pioneer in the use of this innovative approach that enables patients to go home within days.
  • A collaborative team approach: Our physicians from MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper and the Cooper Neurological Institute work closely together to provide seamlessly integrated, comprehensive and highly coordinated care.

Pituitary Tumor Causes and Risk Factors

It’s not exactly known what causes most pituitary tumors. Some are related to genetic mutations (changes in the cells that make up our genes) that are inherited, which can increase our risk of developing pituitary tumors.

Other mutations are acquired (they develop during our lifetime), but scientists haven’t yet identified any environmental causes.

It’s also not clear whether abnormal genes always cause pituitary tumors to form. What is known is that the regulatory mechanism that normally keeps pituitary cells from growing and over-producing hormones doesn’t function correctly.

Pituitary tumors can be part of a syndrome that also increases the risk of other tumor types. These syndromes are causes by genetic changes and include:

  • Multiple endocrine neoplasia (type I): An inherited condition in which people have a higher risk of developing pituitary, parathyroid and pancreatic tumors; it is inherited by about half of children of an affected parent
  • Multiple endocrine neoplasia (type IV): A rare syndrome that increases the risk of pituitary tumors and certain other tumors
  • McCune-Albright syndrome: Caused by gene changes that occur before birth but aren’t inherited; people with this syndrome have brown patches on their skin and develop bone problems, and can also have hormone issues and pituitary tumors

Symptoms of Pituitary Tumors

Pituitary tumors cause symptoms in three ways:

  • Producing too much of certain hormones
  • Pressing on the pituitary gland, causing it to make too little of one or more hormones
  • Pressing on the optic nerves or the nerves controlling eye movements

Depending on which hormones are affected, symptoms of a pituitary tumor may include:

  • Headaches
  • Mood changes, irritability
  • Unexplained tiredness
  • Vision problems
  • Menstrual cycle changes in women
  • Erectile dysfunction in men
  • Infertility
  • Inappropriate breast growth (in men and women) or production of breast milk
  • Cushing’s syndrome, a combination of high blood pressure, weight gain, diabetes and bruising
  • Acromegaly, enlargement of the hands, feet and face

Treating Pituitary Tumors

Most pituitary tumors are non-cancerous adenomas. Treatment depends on the pituitary adenoma’s size, whether it is overproducing hormones and, if so, which hormone it is making. Treatment may include:

  • Surgery: Minimally invasive neuroendoscopic pituitary surgery is performed through the nose and allows most patients to go home within days of their procedure
  • Medication: Depending on the type of hormone(s) being secreted, various medications may be used to block hormone secretion caused by pituitary tumors and shrink the tumors
  • Radiation therapy: If surgery isn’t an option, if part of a tumor remains or returns after surgery, or if a tumor causes symptoms not controlled with medication, radiation therapy may be recommended

Call Cooper for an Appointment With a Pituitary Tumor Specialist

To learn more about the resources available for treating pituitary tumors at Cooper or to request an appointment, please call 800.8.COOPER (800.826.6737).