Will pituitary tumor endanger life?

For patients with pituitary tumors, the disease brings them not only physical torture, but also mental torture, as well as the worries of relatives and friends. Patients must also know about the understanding and treatment of the disease. In addition to understanding the disease, I think everyone is most concerned about whether pituitary tumors will endanger human life. Knowing in detail is very important for the patient's future recovery. Let's learn about whether pituitary tumors will endanger life.

The incidence of pituitary adenoma is 7.5 to 15 per 100,000. Some pituitary tumors may not be detected or develop in a lifetime. In the autopsy process of normal dead patients, the incidence of pituitary adenoma varies from report to report, ranging from 9% to 65%, which means that among 100 normal dead people, about 9% to 65% have pituitary adenomas. There is another number, that is, if you randomly sample 100 normal people for MRI examination, the incidence of pituitary tumors is 16%, which is very high, but many people do not develop the disease and have no symptoms. Based on these figures, it can be said that the incidence or detection rate of pituitary tumors is getting higher and higher.

What harm can a pituitary tumor cause to the body?

1. Endocrine disorders: Pituitary tumors with secretory functions secrete hyperhormones, causing an increase in the patient's PRL, GH, ACTH, TSH and other hormones, which can cause menstrual disorders, lactation, miscarriage, infertility, sexual dysfunction, obesity, ugly face, gigantism, enlarged hands and feet, increased hair, rough skin, etc. Those with hypopituitarism will show symptoms of fatigue, fear of cold, etc.

2. Damage to structures surrounding the tumor: As the pituitary tumor grows, it invades and compresses important surrounding structures, such as the optic nerve, cavernous sinus, basilar cerebral artery, hypothalamus, ventricles, brain stem, etc., manifesting as decreased vision, visual field defects, hemiplegia, fixed eyeballs, diplopia, intellectual and memory disorders, mental changes, headaches, hydrocephalus, etc.

3. Multiple organ damage: Hypersecretion of pituitary hormones causes damage to the functions of many organs, resulting in heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, cerebral arteriosclerosis, and cerebral ischemia.

4. Metabolic disorders: Decreased potassium, sodium, chloride, and calcium in the blood, resulting in weakness, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal distension, and multiple spontaneous fractures throughout the body, mostly in the ribs and vertebrae.

5. Psychological stress: Pituitary adenoma can occur at any age and may cause significant damage to human growth and development, physical and mental health, fertility problems, and the function of multiple organs in the body. After the initial diagnosis of pituitary tumor, the diagnosis and tumor type should be further clarified, and the correct treatment plan must be adopted. Both passive treatment and overtreatment are very harmful.

At present, the treatment of pituitary tumors is still mainly surgery, supplemented by drug therapy and radiotherapy. Pituitary tumors are located in the sellar region, surrounded by important nerve structures such as the optic nerve, internal carotid artery, and hypothalamus, so surgery still has certain risks. The current surgical methods include transsphenoidal, craniotomy, and gamma knife. Tumors with a diameter greater than 3 cm and adhesion to the optic nerve or visual impairment can be treated surgically first. The surgery must achieve sufficient decompression of the optic nerve, and then gamma knife treatment can be performed after surgery. Only timely discovery and timely treatment can make cure possible, so most pituitary tumors will not be life-threatening.