The pituitary gland controls the endocrine system and problems can affect various parts of the body. Common issues include noncancerous tumors, Cushing’s syndrome, and growth hormone deficiencies, which can cause symptoms such as weakness, hair loss, and vision loss. Treatment options include surgery, radiation, medication, and hormone replacement therapy. Early diagnosis and treatment are important.
At the base of the brain is the pituitary gland, which controls the entire endocrine system of the human body. Although about the size of a pea, pituitary gland problems can affect almost any part of the body. There are many different types of pituitary gland problems that can occur from birth to old age. The most common include noncancerous tumors, Cushing’s syndrome, and growth hormone deficiencies.
Tumors of the pituitary gland, called pituitary adenomas, are typically noncancerous. They can, however, significantly increase or decrease the amount of hormones produced by the pituitary gland, causing a variety of medical problems. The most common symptoms of these problems are weakness, low blood pressure, hair loss, and rapid weight gain or loss. It can also cause vision loss and severe headaches. Depending on the location and size of the tumor, treatment can range from surgery or radiation for removal to drugs to inhibit the growth of the tumor. During treatment, medications are often prescribed to raise or lower hormone levels in order to bring the body back into balance and relieve many of the symptoms.
Cushing’s syndrome occurs when the body is exposed to significantly high amounts of the hormone cortisol for an extended period. This can happen due to a pituitary adenoma or develop when corticosteroid medications are taken for a long time. The most common symptoms include an unusually round face, the sudden and seemingly unexplained appearance of stretch marks, as well as a visible deposit of fat between the shoulder blades. In some cases, Cushing’s syndrome can also cause high blood pressure, diabetes, bone loss, and excessive bruising. Treatment for this syndrome depends on its cause: Cushing’s syndrome due to an adenoma is treated with radiation, surgery, or medication, while Cushing’s syndrome due to corticosteroid medication is treated by stopping the drug and treating the remaining symptoms.
Another of the common pituitary gland problems is a growth hormone deficiency. This happens when the pituitary gland doesn’t produce enough of the hormones the body needs to grow. While this disorder is rare, it is more common from birth, although it can occur in adults. When diagnosed early enough, especially in children, growth hormone deficiency can sometimes be treated with hormone replacement therapy.
While this treatment isn’t effective for everyone, it has been shown to help many with these types of pituitary gland problems achieve a relatively normal level of growth by adulthood. If treatment doesn’t work or isn’t given, a growth hormone deficiency can lead to a shorter than normal height and can sometimes delay puberty if not prevent it altogether. In some cases, the problems can be treated effectively without significant damage to health. Despite this, pituitary gland problems are serious and need to be addressed as quickly as possible.
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