Pituitary Adenoma Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Symptoms can vary quite a bit. It will depend on whether or not the tumor is secreting hormones. The tumor's location at the base of the brain can also cause symptoms.

General symptoms may include:

• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Impotence and infertility
• Painful intercourse

Symptoms from Prolactin Secreting Adenoma (40% of all cases)

• Fractures from osteoporosis
• Milk production from nonlactating females
• Amenorrhea
• Vaginal dryness

Symptoms from Thyrotropin-secreting Adenoma

• Enlarged thyroid (eg goiter)

Symptoms from Corticotropin-secreting Adenoma:

• Menstrual disturbance
• High blood pressure
• High fasting glucose
• Skin changes (increased facial hair, acne, bruising, bluish stretch marks
• Buffalo hump (increased fatty tissue in back)
• Obesity especially around the wrist
• Round face

Growth Hormone-secreting Adenoma

• Acromegaly (adult)
• Gigantism (child)
• High blood pressure
• High fasting blood sugar
• Facial features coarse
• Oily skin
• Excess sweating

Pituitary adenomas may also be associated with the following conditions:

• Diabetes mellitus
• Kidney stones
• Cardiovascular disease
• High blood pressure
• Osteoporosis
• Thyroid disease

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. You may be referred to an endocrinologist. This is a doctor that focuses on these glands. Tests may include:

• Blood tests—to measure hormone levels, blood sugar levels (prolactin, TSH, growth hormone, corticotrophin or aCTH, beta human gonadotropin, nsulin-like growth factor-1, alpha subunit), and to identify other underlying conditions that may be causing your symptoms
• Urine tests—to measure excretion levels of certain pituitary gland hormones (beta human gonadotropin, cortisol)
• Visual field tests—to check for problems with peripheral vision
• MRI scan —a test that uses strong magnets and radio waves to create pictures of structures inside the brain

Special Tests

• Glucose tolerance test—the standard test for acromegaly
• Dexamethasone suppression test and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) test—best tests to see if excessive secretion of hormones from the adrenal gland is due to a pituitary adenoma