What tests are done to check for pituitary tumors

The onset of each pituitary tumor patient is different, and the doctor will ask the patient to do corresponding examinations according to each person's situation in order to make a diagnosis of the disease. However, many patients do not understand. When they see that the examinations done by others are different from theirs, they begin to feel scared. They wonder what examinations should be done to diagnose pituitary tumors?

1. Clinical manifestations: The discomfort symptoms and physical changes of the patient after becoming ill are the most basic information for diagnosis. Some subtle manifestations may serve as the basis for important diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Since online consultation cannot directly talk to the doctor face to face, it is necessary to provide the doctor with detailed clinical information. Don't forget to state the patient's age, gender, and duration of the disease.

2. Imaging: (1) Skull X-ray: This is a relatively primitive diagnostic method. It determines the presence of tumors and differential diagnosis based on changes in the sella turcica bone and calcification in the sella turcica. (2) CT scan: It is only valuable for diagnosing large pituitary tumors. Tiny pituitary tumors are easily missed and cannot be used as the main tool for diagnosing pituitary tumors. (3) MRI examination: It is the most important tool for diagnosing pituitary tumors. It can clearly show the size, shape, location, and relationship of the tumor with surrounding findings. Even tumors with a diameter of 2-3 mm can be displayed. However, the signals of some tumors are similar to those of the surrounding normal pituitary tissues, and the two are difficult to distinguish. It is also necessary to combine clinical manifestations and endocrine examinations for diagnosis.

3. 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.

4. Pathological examination: This is the most reliable diagnostic method with a very low misdiagnosis rate. Pathological diagnosis is divided into ordinary slices HE staining light microscopy observation. This operation can only be used for gross diagnosis and cannot distinguish the type of tumor. Immunohistochemical staining. Diagnosis is based on the hormones contained in tumor cells. It has high sensitivity, but the misdiagnosis rate is also high. Electron perspective microscope observation can distinguish the tumor type based on the different characteristics of tumor cells. It is rarely used in clinical practice.

These are all possible examinations that may be needed for pituitary tumors. The suggestions given by doctors are very professional. Actively cooperate with the doctor's examination and treatment so that you can recover soon.