What is the pituitary gland?
The pituitary gland is a small, pea-sized gland that stalks off the middle portion of your brain. Despite it size, the pituitary is essential for many important functions. It is primarily responsible for managing several different hormones in the body. This includes the following:
- Growth hormone (GH): Increases height during child development, increases muscle mass, strengthens bones, stimulates the immune system
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): Stimulates the production of cortisol, a stress hormone.Thyroid stimulating hormone: Stimulates the production of thyroid hormone
- Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH): Stimulates the production of thyroid hormone
- Luteinizing hormone and Follicle-stimulating hormone (LH & FSH): Sex hormones – in females, they are responsible for the menstrual cycle, and in males help stimulate testosterone and sperm production
- Prolactin: Helps produce breast milk in females
- Antidiuretic hormone (ADH): Also known as vasopressin, ADH controls the amount of free water in your blood thereby increasing or decreasing blood pressure
- Oxytocin: In females, it is responsible for uterine contractions during labor
![]()
The pituitary gland is an essential regulator of hormones throughout the body
What are the most common types of pituitary tumors?
Pituitary adenomas, which are benign tumors, are the most common pituitary tumor. Most commonly, the tumors are non-functional and can put pressure on the normal parts of the gland causing underproduction of hormones. Other times, the tumors are secrete too much hormone. The most common secreting pituitary tumor is prolactin-secreting.
What are the symptoms associated with pituitary tumors?
Because most pituitary tumors don’t normally cause symptoms, many are found incidentally. If the tumor is considered a secreting tumor, then the symptoms will be directly related to the type of hormone it is oversecreting. For example, prolactinomas overproduce prolactin, which can cause females to lactate, or in males, can affect the ability to get erections. If the tumor grows too large, it can push against the optic nerves, causing blurriness of vision. Other symptoms include headaches, changes in mental status, and irritability.
How are pituitary tumors treated?
Once a tumor of the pituitary gland has been identified, CT scan and MRI imaging are both obtained to evaluate the extend of the tumor as well as the location of nearby anatomic structures, like the internal carotid arteries. Surgical planning is typically conducted in coordination with a Neurosurgeon. During surgery, the Rhinologist will use his skills in endoscopic surgery to locate and prepare the resection of the pituitary tumor for the Neurosurgeons. As co-surgeons, the neurosurgical team will then remove the tumor while the rhinologist drives the camera. Once complete, the rhinologist will then plug any holes in the skull base and repair any CSF leaks present. This teamwork allows for the most optimal outcomes in endoscopic skull base surgery.
