Pituitary tumours

Larger tumours can put pressure on the surrounding structures, such as the optic nerve, causing headaches and vision problems. They can also cause the under production or over production of hormones. 

Other tumour-specific symptoms include: 

• Prolactin-secreting tumours, which can affecting a woman's periods and cause sexual problems in men. 
• Somatotroph adenomas or GH-secreting tumours, which can cause abnormal growth and enlarged hands and feet.
• TSH-secreting tumours, which can cause weight loss and palpitations.
• ACTH-secreting tumours, which can cause a round face, weight gain, increased facial hair and depression.

Your consultant will discuss your symptoms with you and help to make a diagnosis. They may order the following tests:

• Brain scans. MRI and CT scans show detailed images of your brain, and may reveal the size and location of the tumour.
• Eye tests. During an eye test, your consultant will check your field of vision, which may be restricted with these tumours.
• Blood tests. High levels of pituitary hormones may indicate a pituitary tumour.

Your consultant will discuss your treatment options with you and help to determine the best approach for you. If a pituitary tumour is getting larger and growing against the optic nerves, it may need to be removed through surgery. There are two approaches:

• Through the nose. This is called trans-sphenoidal surgery. The pituitary gland is located just above the back of the nose, giving the surgeon access to the tumour by simply making a passage through the nose.
• Through the skull. If the tumour is growing into the brain, a trans-cranial approach may be suggested, although this is not common now.