How to detect pituitary tumor

The examination and diagnosis of pituitary tumors is very important. Its examination and diagnosis is not very complicated. Now that medicine is developed, there are many advanced diagnostic examination methods. Due to the application of high-definition imaging and magnetic resonance imaging methods, the accuracy of examination and diagnosis of this disease is getting higher and higher. So, how to detect pituitary tumors? Let's listen to the experts' introduction.

The diagnosis of pituitary tumors is not difficult. In addition to a detailed medical history, physical examination, clinical symptoms and signs, and endocrine function tests, the most important thing is to make a diagnosis through imaging examinations, the most common of which are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT scans, and X-rays.

1. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): MRI is the best choice for pituitary tumor imaging because of its sensitivity and ability to better display the tumor and its anatomical relationship with surrounding tissues. It can distinguish the optic chiasm and sella turcica diaphragm, clearly show whether cerebral blood vessels and pituitary tumors have invaded the cavernous sinus and sphenoid sinus, and whether the pituitary stalk is compressed.

2. CT scan: Conventional CT scans can only detect larger pituitary lesions. High-resolution multi-slice coronal reconstruction CT can detect smaller pituitary tumors during enhanced scanning.

3. X-ray film: When the disease is serious, the plain film shows that the sella turcica is enlarged, the diameters of the sella turcica are enlarged, the sella turcica wall is thinned, the sella turcica floor is moved downward, the sella dorsum is destroyed, and the anterior and posterior beds are narrowed, which makes the sella turcica opening enlarged. The lateral film shows a double sella turcica floor.

4. Endocrine examination: Since most pituitary tumors have the function of secreting hormones, when the clinical manifestations are not obvious and imaging cannot indicate the presence of a tumor, the hormones of the pituitary tumor have already changed. Some pituitary tumor cases can be diagnosed simply by endocrine testing, such as ACTH cell adenoma. In most cases, the tumor cannot be seen from imaging. Rare displaced pituitary tumors are located in the chest cavity, abdominal cavity and other parts, and are mainly diagnosed based on endocrine.

Experts explain that the symptoms of pituitary tumors are the primary factor in determining the condition. The main symptoms of pituitary tumors often manifest as decreased vision, lactation in women, sexual dysfunction in men, etc. If these symptoms appear, further examinations are necessary to confirm the condition.