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Underactive Pituitary Gland- Panhypopituitarism Handout
What are the hormones dose pituitary gland produces?
The pituitary gland is an endocrine gland (aka master switch) nestled in the bony structure behind the bridge of your nose. It is attached to your brain via blood vessels and nerve endings.
The pituitary gland secretes the following hormones:
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
- Growth hormone
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
- Prolactin
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Luteinizing hormone (LH)
- Oxytocin
In addition to producing growth hormones and prolactin, the pituitary hormones regulate your thyroid gland, adrenal gland, and female and male reproductive systems.
Is a pituitary tumor a brain tumor?
A pituitary tumor is NOT considered a brain tumor as the pituitary gland is not a part of the brain. The pituitary gland is located within the skull bone at the base of the brain.
What are the most common pituitary disorders?
The most common pituitary disorder includes benign pituitary nodule/tumors. There are two types of pituitary tumors:
Nonfunctional pituitary tumors
These are nonfunctional pituitary tumors; it usually doesn’t cause problems. However, if a nonfunctional tumor grows large enough, it can cause vision problems, headache, and pituitary hormone deficiencies.
Functional pituitary tumors
Functional tumors of the pituitary actively produce one or more hormones. These are the common issues caused by functional tumors include:
- Prolactinomas, due to excessive prolactin
- Cushing syndrome, due to excessive cortisol
- Acromegaly, due to excessive growth hormone
Acromegaly causes gigantism when it occurs in younger children, but it can also affect middle-aged adults who may develop enlarged feet and hands, headaches, impotence, irregular periods, and vision loss.
What is hypopituitarism?
Hypopituitarism is when the pituitary gland doesn’t produce enough amount of one or more hormones. If you have low levels of any of the pituitary hormones, it can result in health problems and symptoms.
Here are two common examples of hypo-pituitary problems:
- If the pituitary doesn’t produce thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), you can develop an underactive thyroid, affecting virtually every system in your body. Weight gain, fatigue, dry skin, and muscle weakness are a few common symptoms of an underactive thyroid.
- A deficiency of growth hormone results in loss of muscle and bone mass in adults.
How are pituitary disorders treated?
The underlying pituitary problem determines your treatment and whether you have excessive or deficient pituitary hormone levels. In most cases, treatment includes three major options: hormone replacement therapy, surgical removal of the tumor, or radiation therapy to shrink a tumor.
If you have generic symptoms or don’t feel right and don’t know why you’ll find answers with a thorough evaluation at District Endocrine. Call our office or book an appointment online.
