Why does hypopituitarism happen?
A pituitary tumor may cause the loss of normal pituitary function; usually this occurs because of pressure (compression) by the tumor on the normal gland. Other causes of loss of normal pituitary function, destruction of the normal gland, include bleeding into the tumor and normal gland, surgery and radiation therapy. Regardless of the cause, hormone replacement is required.
A pituitary tumor, craniopharyngioma or Rathke’s cleft cyst may cause the loss of normal pituitary function; usually because of pressure (compression) by the tumor on the normal pituitary gland. Other causes of loss of normal pituitary function, destruction of the normal gland, include bleeding into a tumor which destroys the normal gland (called pituitary apoplexy), surgery and radiation therapy. Regardless of the cause, hormone replacement(s) is required.
