What diseases may be complicated by pituitary tumors

When pituitary tumors occur in the early stages, not many people would think that there is a problem with the pituitary gland. Going to the hospital for diagnosis may also lead to confusion with other diseases. Until complications occur, the series of diseases caused by the complications cannot be ignored. Today we will talk about the diseases that may be complicated by pituitary tumors, so that you will not be unaware of similar phenomena in the future.

1. Symptoms and signs of optic nerve compression: As the tumor grows in the sella turcica, it develops upward and compresses the optic chiasm or optic nerve, causing changes in vision and perception. More than 90% of patients have decreased vision, which can also be monocular vision loss, and even cause blindness in one or both eyes.

2. Symptoms and signs of endocrine and metabolic disorders: The endocrine function of the pituitary gland is very complex. It mainly controls the growth, development, material metabolism, sexual organs, sexual function and other physiological activities of the human body through the endocrine peripheral glands under the control of the central nervous system. The anterior pituitary gland has 6 hormones, namely growth hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone and two gonadotropins. The posterior pituitary gland contains antidiuretic hormone and oxytocin, so diabetes insipidus may occur if the posterior pituitary gland is affected.

3. Hypergonadotropin: It causes the target glands to secrete more sex hormones. In the early stage, men may have hypersexuality, which will gradually decline. In women, menstruation may be less, menopause may occur, breasts may develop, and the lactation period may be extended to several years after the cessation of breastfeeding.

4. Hypopituitarism: The degree of hypopituitarism is related to the degree of pressure on normal pituitary gland cells. Due to the hypofunction of the anterior pituitary gland, the endocrine glands it controls atrophy, showing various functional disorders.

5. Hypergrowth hormone: If eosinophilic pituitary adenoma occurs before epiphyseal closure (before adulthood), it manifests as gigantism. If it occurs after adulthood, it manifests as acromegaly. The type in between is a mixed type.

If you feel that you have similar symptoms, you must go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible to avoid delaying the disease.