What is a pituitary adenoma?
A pituitary adenoma is a noncancerous tumor that arises from a cell within the pituitary gland. If a tumor develops from a cell that makes a hormone, it’s called a functioning tumor. Most pituitary adenomas are functioning. If a tumor develops from a cell that does not make a hormone, it’s called a nonfunctioning tumor. What are the types of pituitary adenomas? Tumors that produce too much of a particular hormone cause specific diseases or tumor types. Pituitary diseases and related hormones: • Hyperthyroidism thyroid stimulating • Cushing’s Disease adrenocorticotropin • Acromegaly growth • Gonadotroph tumor follicle-stimulating/leutinizing • Prolactinoma prolactin What are the symptoms for each condition? Symptoms vary depending on the type of hormone that the tumor overproduces. Because these conditions are so rare and many symptoms can be related to other diseases, it often takes years for them to be properly diagnosed. Hyperthyroidism symptoms include: • Fatigue • Weight loss • Hea
