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Pituitary Tumor: Signs, Symptoms and Causes

Home> Pituitary tumour> Symptoms and Causes

Pituitary tumor symptoms include headaches, vision changes, and hormonal imbalances. Pituitary tumor causes may involve genetic mutations. These tumors can affect hormone production, leading to several symptoms and affecting several body functions. The reasons for symptom presentation are different for functional and non-functional tumors.

Pituitary Tumor Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of a pituitary tumor depend on its characteristics. The tumor may be functional or non-functional. Functional tumors cause pituitary tumor symptoms by releasing excessive hormones, and non-functional tumors cause pituitary tumor symptoms through pressure on other tissues.

Symptoms from Tumor Pressure

The following are the commonly observed pituitary tumor signs associated with the tumor pressure:

Headache

Patients may experience headaches due to pressure on the tissues surrounding the tumor, which may cause tissue damage and pain.

Eyes

Pressure on the optic nerve near the pituitary gland may lead to various vision problems. Pituitary tumor symptoms in the eyes include blurred vision, double vision, or peripheral vision loss.

Face Pain

Face pain could be a pituitary tumor sign. When the trigeminal nerve, an important nerve for facial sensation, gets compressed by the pituitary tumor, it leads to facial pain.

Drooping Eyelid

The oculomotor nerve regulates the movement of eyelids and can be damaged or compressed by the pituitary tumor, leading to a drooping eyelid..

Seizures

A pituitary gland tumor causes high intracranial pressure by enhancing pressure on the brain, resulting in seizures.

Nausea and Vomiting

The pressure of the pituitary brain tumor on the surrounding structures may lead to nausea and vomiting.

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Symptoms from Hormone Changes

Functional pituitary tumors increase the level of specific hormones, leading to various symptoms. Some of the common pituitary gland cancer symptoms include:

Tiredness or Weakness

Various hormones regulate metabolism and the release of energy. Interference in this regulation by pituitary tumors causes tiredness or weakness.

Lack of Energy

In some cases, hormonal dysregulation due to a pituitary tumor, such as thyroid-stimulating hormone imbalance, causes a lack of energy.

Sexual Problems

Sexual problems in both males and females are one of the most common pituitary tumor symptoms. It may result in infertility and the loss of libido.

Changes in Menstrual Cycles

Women may also experience altered menstrual cycles due to hormone dysregulation due to pituitary tumors.

Nausea

Excessive secretion of certain hormones, such as ACTH, may cause gastrointestinal disorders resulting in nausea.

Feeling Cold

Certain hormones regulate body temperature. Altered levels of these hormones result in the sensation of a cold.

Losing or Gaining Weight Without Trying

An unintended change in weight is also a sign of a pituitary tumor and occurs due to the overproduction of various hormones.

Pituitary Tumors That Make Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

Weight Gain

Patients with excessive ACTH hormones have high levels of cortisol that cause weight gain, especially on the face and abdomen.

Rounded Face

Patients may also have rounded faces due to the accumulation of fat on the face. The round face or moon face is seen in patients with Cushing’s disease.

Stretch Marks

High cortisol levels also affect skin structure and collagen synthesis, leading to stretch marks.

Thin Skin that Bruises Easily

Patients may have easy bruising due to thinning of the skin, increased vessel fragility, and impaired clotting mechanisms due to high cortisol levels.

Muscle Weakness

Elevated cortisol levels may result in muscle weakness, especially in the limbs, affecting mobility.

Thicker or More Visible Body Hair

Excessive hair growth, or hirsutism, especially on the face, is one of the pituitary tumor signs that occur due to hormonal imbalance.

Slow Healing of Cuts

Elevated levels of cortisol result in a compromised immune system and altered collagen synthesis, resulting in delayed wound healing.

Areas of Darkened Skin

Patients may also have hyperpigmentation due to increased melanin production and noticeable scars, skin folds, and pressure points.

Acne

Elevated cortisol levels increase the production of oil, leading to acne.

Changes in Menstrual Cycles

Disruption of the menstrual cycle is also a pituitary tumor sign. The high levels of ACTH and cortisol affect ovulation and cause menstrual irregularities.

Sexual Problems

Patients with ACTH pituitary tumors may have reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, and infertility.

Pituitary Tumors that Make Growth Hormone

Changes in Facial Features

Excessive growth hormone production stimulates tissue and bone growth, resulting in changes in facial structure and physical appearance.

Growth of Hands and Feet

Patients with growth hormone-secreting pituitary tumors may have acromegaly, resulting in the abnormal growth of hands and feet.

Thicker Skin

Excess growth hormone stimulates collagen production, resulting in skin thickening.

More Sweating and Body Odor

Elevated levels of growth hormones affect the thermoregulation and metabolism of the body, resulting in excessive sweating and body odor.

Joint Pain

Excess growth hormone stimulates bone and tissue growth, resulting in joint enlargement and enhanced joint stress. It causes joint pain and discomfort.

A Deeper Voice

Excessive growth hormone production alters the laryngeal anatomy and enlarges the vocal cords, resulting in a deeper voice in these patients.

Pituitary Tumors that Make Luteinizing Hormone and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone

Pituitary tumor symptoms in women may include:

Changes in Menstrual Cycles

Imbalances in LH and FSH levels may lead to irregular or absent menstrual periods and serve as a pituitary tumor symptom in females.

Fertility Problems

The altered levels of LH and FSH affect the maturation and release of eggs, resulting in infertility in affected individuals.

Enlargement and Pain in the Ovaries

Dysregulation of the LH and FSH can stimulate abnormal follicle development in the ovaries, contributing to their enlargement.

Pituitary tumor symptoms in men may include:

Enlarged Testicles

Altered LH and FSH levels may result in increased testosterone production, leading to testicular enlargement.

Higher Levels of Testosterone

Excessive levels of LH and FSH disrupt hormonal signaling, leading to increased stimulation of the testes. Higher testosterone production is a pituitary gland tumor symptom in males.

Pituitary Tumors that Make Prolactin

Following the prolactin tumor symptoms:

Pituitary tumor symptoms in women:

Irregular Menstrual Cycles

Higher levels of prolactin cause irregular menstrual cycles, which is a sign of a pituitary tumor.

Lack of Menstrual Cycles

Elevated prolactin levels may suppress the process of ovulation, leading to a lack of menstrual cycles.

Milky Discharge from the Breasts

Women may have a milky discharge from the breast, a condition known as galactorrhea, as a symptom of a pituitary tumor. The breast discharge is not related to breastfeeding or pregnancy.

Breast Tenderness

Elevated prolactin levels may stimulate breast tissue, resulting in discomfort and tenderness in the breasts.

Problems with Fertility

As higher prolactin levels suppress ovulation, patients may have infertility.

Less Interest in Sex

Higher levels of prolactin may result in hormonal imbalance, resulting in reduced libido.

Pituitary tumor symptoms in men may include:

Problems with Erections

Elevated prolactin levels may disrupt the normal balance of reproductive hormones, potentially leading to difficulties in achieving or maintaining an erection.

Less Interest in Sex

Patients with prolactin pituitary tumors may have reduced sexual desire.

Breast Growth

As the pituitary tumor releases excessive amounts of prolactin, males may have increased growth of breast tissues, a condition known as gynecomastia.

Problems with Fertility

Patients with higher prolactin levels may also have infertility.

Less Body and Facial Hair

Elevated prolactin levels may affect hair follicles and alter hair growth patterns in affected individuals, leading to reduced body and facial hair.

Pituitary Tumors That Make Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone

Weight Loss

Excessive TSH production stimulates the thyroid gland, increasing metabolism and causing weight loss, even with an increased appetite.

Rapid or Irregular Heartbeat

Excessive TSH production may cause hyperthyroidism, affect the cardiovascular system, and contribute to palpitations, irregular heart rhythms, or an increased heart rate in individuals with these tumors.

Nervousness, Anxiety, or Irritability

Excessive TSH production may result in changes in energy levels, mood swings, and metabolic disruptions.

Frequent Bowel Movements

Excessive thyroid hormone production stimulates the digestive system, increasing bowel activity.

Sweating

The thyroid gland overstimulation due to elevated TSH levels increases metabolism, increasing body temperature and sweating.

Tremor

Patients with thyroid-stimulating hormone pituitary tumors have nervous system hypersensitivity, resulting in hand tremors.

Sleep Problems

Disruption of the thyroid function results in restless sleep, insomnia, or other sleep disorders.

What Causes Pituitary Tumor?

There are no exact pituitary tumor causes. Genes are present in the DNA. These genes control the functioning of cells, including their growth, multiplication, and death. If there is any deletion or alteration in the genetic information, the cell grows and divides uncontrollably. Oncogenes are the mutated form of genes responsible for cell division, while tumor suppressor genes control division. When the tumor suppressor gene is turned off, patients may develop cancer. Further, there are DNA repair genes that repair mistakes. Mutations in these genes may also be a pituitary tumor cause.

When to see an Oncologist?

Patients should not ignore any of the symptoms of concern. They should book an appointment with an oncologist if they experience headaches, visual disturbances, facial pain, weakness and fatigue, insomnia, infertility, nausea and vomiting, and seizures.

Conclusion

The symptoms of the pituitary gland depend on the type of hormone released by the tumor. Some of the pituitary gland symptoms include headache, facial pain, infertility, low libido, breast discharge, weight loss, and weakness. Although the exact pituitary tumor causes have not been identified yet, genetic mutations may be one of the possible causes. The side effects of a pituitary tumor are due to excessive hormonal secretion.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take a pituitary tumor to grow?

The growth of a pituitary tumor depends on its characteristics. Although most pituitary tumors are slow-growing, some tumors rapidly grow.

Not all tumors present symptoms, especially slow-growing tumors. These are diagnosed during the evaluation of other health conditions.

Pituitary tumors primarily affect the pituitary gland. Pituitary adenoma stays in the pituitary gland, while pituitary carcinoma may spread to the spine and meninges.

People with some underlying conditions, such as McCune-Albright syndrome and the Carney complex, are at increased risk for pituitary tumors.

Pituitary gland tumors may affect the digestive system and cause gastrointestinal symptoms, such as frequent bowel movements, nausea, and vomiting.

A pituitary tumor headache may be seen in the centre of the forehead or on one side only.

Some of the pituitary tumor symptoms related to the eyes include difficulty with eye movements, blurry or double vision, and loss of peripheral vision.