Pituitary gland tumors occur in approximately one in 5 people and are among benign tumors. They do not cause symptoms or harm for a lifetime. However, the function of the pituitary gland is very important. Therefore, it can cause significant health problems due to the growth of the tumor and secretion of hormones that do not benefit the body.
What are the symptoms of a pituitary gland tumor?
Patients witha pituitary gland tumor may sometimes show no symptoms of the condition, or symptoms may be caused by a disease unrelated to the tumor. Some of the symptoms that people with pituitary gland tumors may experience include
- Cushing's syndrome caused by excess ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) production
- Acromegaly caused by overproduction of growth hormone (thickening and growth of the bones and sharp parts of the body after the end of normal development)
- Headache
- Visual disturbances
- Menstrual changes in women
- Infertility
- Too little or too much breast milk production
- Fatigue without cause
- Inconsistent moods
- Impatience
What Causes Pituitary Gland Tumor?
The causes of pituitary gland tumor formation are still unknown. This gland is located in the lower part of the human brain. It is a small bean-shaped gland, but it affects almost every part of the body. Hormones produced by this gland regulate functions such as reproduction, growth and blood pressure. Some pituitary gland tumors are hereditary, but the majority are not. Scientists believe that the development of a pituitary gland tumor is related to hereditary changes.
How is a pituitary gland tumor treated?
Active Monitoring: Patients who do not have a pituitary gland tumor and whose hormones function normally can benefit from active monitoring treatment. In the active monitoring method, the patient is closely monitored and tests are performed regularly. Thus, it is checked whether there are any tumor symptoms. This is why this type of treatment is also called a watchful-waiting approach. Treatment is started when there are signs of a tumor.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): If the pituitary gland does not produce enough hormones due to a pituitary tumor, "hormone replacement therapy" becomes inevitable. Some hormones are transformed to provide the hormones your body needs. Hormones secreted by the adrenal gland, thyroid hormones, estrogen in women and testosterone in men, and growth hormone are the hormones needed.
Medication: If the pituitary tumor causes the pituitary gland to produce more hormones, medication will help patients. Tumors that cause overproduction of growth hormone can be treated with Somavert (pegvisomant) or Sandostatin (octreotide), while Dostinex (cabergoline) and Parlodel (bromocriptine) are excellent drugs for tumors that secrete prolactin. Pituitary tumors that secrete Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) can also be treated with Octreotidine.
Surgical Intervention: Surgical intervention is the most common recommended treatment for pituitary gland tumors. It helps to successfully remove the tumor completely. Surgical intervention involves removing the tumor and the tissues around the tumor in an operation. In more than 95% of surgical interventions, the "transsphenoidal route" is used, but in some cases a skull or craniotomy opening is required.
The transsphenoidal route involves entering through the nasal passage and moving along the septum through the sphenoid sinus cavity. Since the pituitary gland is located at the back of the throat, it is necessary to reach towards the back of the throat.
Radiation therapy : Radiation therapy is the use of X-rays to destroy tumor cells. Radiation oncologist is the title given to doctors who specialize in applying radiation therapy to tumor patients.
External-beam radiation therapy is one of the most common forms of radiation therapy in which the body is treated by receiving radiation from an external machine. Radiation treatment times are usually given in a series over a period of time, forming a treatment number.