What are the risk factors for pituitary tumors?
Certain factors can make one person more likely to get a pituitary tumor than another person. These are called risk factors. In some cancers, doctors have identified risk factors that can be avoided, such as smoking or sun exposure. With pituitary tumors, doctors are not sure what exactly causes pituitary tumors and only one risk factor has been identified. Most people who get a pituitary tumor have no known risk factors. The only proven risk factor for a pituitary tumor is multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 1. This is known as MEN1. MEN1 is a hereditary condition. People with it have a high risk of getting tumors of the pituitary, the parathyroid, and the pancreas. About half of all children of parents who both carry this rare syndrome will get MEN1.
Certain factors can make one person more likely to get a pituitary tumor than another person. These are called risk factors. In some cancers, doctors have identified risk factors that can be avoided, such as smoking or sun exposure. Doctors are not sure what exactly causes pituitary tumors and only one risk factor has been identified. Most people who get a pituitary tumor have no known risk factors. The only proven risk factor for a pituitary tumor is multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 1. This is known as MEN1. MEN1 is a hereditary condition. People with it have a high risk of getting tumors of the pituitary, the parathyroid, and the pancreas. About half of all children of parents who carry the gene change for this rare syndrome will get MEN1.
