Do you experience erectile dysfunction along with frequent headaches? If yes, you are probably suffering from Pituitary Adenoma (PA) – a common disease of the pituitary gland. Get detailed information about this syndrome including its causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
These are benign tumors which occur in the cells of the pituitary gland (master gland that operates the hormones of the body) and represent 15% of all intracranial neoplasms. Such growths may arise in people of any age and usually develop in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.
PA tumors, which are bigger than 10 mm in size, are known as macrodenomas. Those which do not exceed 10 mm are referred to as microdenomas. Such adenomas of pituitary gland are often microadenomas in nature and are generally undiagnosed.
The ICD9 code for this condition is 237.0.
Clinically active adenomas of the pituitary gland are very rare and affect 1 out of every 1,000 inhabitants of the US.
According to medical researchers, PA tumors can be classified depending on their size and ability to generate hormones. These growths have been mainly classified into two types, which are:
Picture 1 – Pituitary Adenoma
Also known as secreting tumors or functioning tumors, these abnormal growths produce only one type of hormone generated by the adenomas.
These non-functioning tumors cause Cushing’s disease, hypeprolactinemia or acromegaly and generate more than one type of hormone.
The causes of pituitary adenoma are still unknown. However, there are few tumors which develop due to genetic changes and are a part of the endocrine disorders. Tumors can also occur due to direct exposure to radiation which causes cancer.
The symptoms of PA vary from one patient to another. In a few cases, the warning signs are not apparent at all. The appearance of symptoms solely depends on the secreting ability of the hormones and its volume.
Check out the symptoms of this disorder arising from conditions caused by it:
The symptoms include:
The symptoms comprise of:
The symptoms involve:
The symptoms include:
The symptom is
The symptoms resulting from increased size of the tumor are:
Adenomas of the pituitary are linked with a few medical conditions, which include:
The diagnosis of this syndrome is dependent on its symptoms. A few tests, which are recommended to help determine the diagnosis of this pituitary disorder, include:
Individuals with suggestive symptoms of Hypopituitarism require a complete examination of the entire endocrine system. Additional hormonal testing is recommended on the basis of the blood test results.
Adenoma patients experiencing vision problems are recommended to visit ophthalmologists. The process of visual examination comprises of formal visual field testing along with acuity testing of both the eyes to find out if the peripheral vision is lost or not. Patients affected with bitemporal hemianopsia generally undergo visual field testing.
An MRI scan can identify the presence of this type of tumor in the pituitary gland of the patient.
The objective of performing such tests is to determine the excretory level of few pituitary gland hormones.
The healing procedure for adenoma pituitary depends on the size of the tumor and its size. The treatment options include:
The main objective of this treatment is to remove the tumor from its base. However, there are chances that the rest of the pituitary gland can severely be disrupted due to the surgery. Such damage can be treated by a hormone replacement therapy. The operative procedures recommended for such disorders may include:
A few medications can curb the symptoms and minimize the size of the tumor, by blocking the hormone secretion. The medication recommended for adenomas which are growth hormone or prolactin-secreting may include:
It comprises of use of radiation to destroy the tumor cells. The types of radiation involved in such therapies are:
Individuals suffering from nonfunctional pituitary adenomas experience a good prognosis. Hypopituitarism patients should be treated with hormone replacement and are diagnosed at an early stage. Such patients are more prone to cardiovascular diseases.
According to medical researchers, individuals suffering from adenomas of the pituitary gland have a low quality of life, as compared to normal people without this syndrome.
People affected with this disease are prone to a few other disorders, which include:
Picture 2 – Pituitary Adenoma Image
Pituitary Adenoma (PA) is a serious pituitary disorder, arising in the form of a tumor, which affects many US inhabitants. If not treated timely, this condition may lead to severe complications ending in surgery. If you suspect yourself or any of your family members to be exhibiting the signs and symptoms of this disorder, contact your nearest healthcare provider immediately.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pituitary_adenoma
http://neurosurgery.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=1123&ref=80&action=detail
http://www.mayoclinic.org/pituitary-tumors/clintrials.html
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