An enlarged pituitary gland can cause various symptoms and may be caused by medical conditions such as tumors or hormonal imbalances. Diagnosis is made through tests and imaging, and treatment involves addressing the underlying cause. Failure to treat the condition can lead to serious consequences. Prevention is not possible, but prognosis is usually good with treatment.
The pituitary gland regulates hormones throughout the body. When this gland is larger than usual, it can cause more symptoms throughout the body. Several medical conditions may be responsible for the problem, and once suspected, a patient is typically referred to an endocrinologist for evaluation and treatment. Treatments can include anything from medications to surgery.
Symptoms of an enlarged gland include frequent headaches, vision changes, excessive sweating, and blood pressure irregularities. Also, the pituitary gland can interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland. Droopy eyelids, nausea, and vomiting are also indicators of an enlarged pituitary gland.
Endocrinologists are usually called in to diagnose problems with the pituitary gland. A primary care physician will usually refer the patient to the specialist when an enlarged gland is suspected. Diagnosis is made through blood tests, medical history, symptom charts, and an MRI or CT scan of the brain. Once an enlarged gland is discovered, the search for a cause and treatment begins.
Treating an enlarged pituitary gland involves treating the cause. If there is a tumor in the gland, surgical removal or radiation treatments are required. If there is bleeding into the gland, the cause must be found and the bleeding stopped. Diseases that cause the gland to become enlarged need to be treated, which will typically shrink the gland. If the gland is enlarged due to inadequate or excessive production of hormones, hormone therapy is prescribed.
The risks of not treating an enlarged pituitary gland can be serious. If there are vision disturbances due to the pressure of the gland on the optic nerves, it is possible to go blind. For hormonal problems, the heart, brain and nervous system can all be adversely affected. Life-threatening consequences can occur whenever a hemorrhage occurs in the brain, including hemorrhage in the pituitary gland. While an enlarged gland is almost always due to an underlying cause, the consequences of not treating the condition can be serious.
Little can be done to prevent an enlarged pituitary gland. Once it occurs, treating the underlying cause will normally shrink the gland back to its original size. After treatment, the prognosis is excellent in most cases.
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