Pituitary adenomas: what are the symptoms of these pituitary tumors? : Current Woman Le MAG

The pituitary gland is a small gland located at the base of the brain. It is part of the endocrine system and is responsible for making various hormones. Also called "master gland", it controls the function of the other endocrine glands.

Pituitary adenomas are benign, non-cancerous tumors originating from the pituitary gland. They fall into two categories: functional, which excessively secrete hormones, and non-functional, which are difficult to spot because they do not increase the production of hormones.

Pituitary adenomas: what are the symptoms?

A pituitary tumor can manifest itself through different symptoms like:

There are different types of pituitary adenomas. Other symptoms help to identify and differentiate them.

The prolactin tumor

This is the most common tumor of the secreting pituitary gland – which means excessive production of hormones. In most cases, it is characterized by a cessation of menstruation and unexplained production of breast milk in women, decreased libido, breast development in men and erectile dysfunction.

The growth hormone tumor

In adults, this secreting pituitary adenoma is characterized by disproportionate development of the skull, facial bones, jaw, hands and feet. In children, it manifests as rapid growth in size. Joint pain, profuse sweating and increased hair growth are also common symptoms.

Corticotrophin tumor (ACTH)

It is characterized by a set of symptoms which are at the origin of Cushing's disease, hypersecretion of the hormone ACTH, such as weight gain, muscle weakness, mood disorders, increased hair growth. facial and body or a rounded, red and puffy face. This pathology can also cause an accumulation of fat between the shoulders and the underside of the collarbone. It also increases blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Gonadotropin tumor

This pituitary adenoma is said to be non-functional because it does not secrete hormones. Typically, the gonadotropin tumor has no symptoms, but it can cause irregular menstruation in women, infertility, or reduced interest in sex in men.

The silent adenoma

In general, the silent adenoma does not cause clinical signs because it does not make any hormones.

Pituitary adenoma: how is this tumor diagnosed?

When a person has a set of clinical signs suggestive of a pituitary adenoma, their doctor prescribes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to confirm the presence of pituitary lesions.

Following this examination, the patient goes to the office of a neurologist or endocrinologist to consider treatment or surgery. In addition to MRI, he can also undergo an endocrine check-up, a radiological check-up, a neuro-ophthalmological check-up and a brain scanner.

What are the treatments to treat a pituitary adenoma?

After diagnosis, surgery is usually scheduled to remove the mass. No medical treatment can shrink the tumor, but some drugs can reduce the excessive secretion of hormones. The length of hospital stay for a patient is estimated at three to four days.

The medical intervention is carried out by a neurosurgeon. Its duration varies from 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes. There are two ways in which the specialist can remove the pituitary adenoma:

  • the endo-nasal route: the neurosurgeon removes the tumor through the nostril.
  • the sub-labial route: it consists of making an incision above the upper gum and then passing through the underside of the nose.

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