Treatment of Pituitary Gland Diseases

Treatment of Pituitary Gland Diseases

Pituitary gland is a very important endocrine gland that regulates secretion of various vital hormone in our body. The gland that is equal to a pea in size is located in a small bone structure at skull base. On facial view, its location corresponds to nasal root between two eyes. Pituitary gland consists of two parts; anterior and posterior. Pituitary gland functions in response to hormonal signals emitted by a higher center, called Hypothalamus.

Based on this mechanism, 6 hormones are secreted from anterior pituitary gland;

• The hormone that regulates secretion of breast milk - PRL
• Thyroid stimulating hormone – TSH,
• Reproduction and sexual function hormones – LH/FSH
• The hormone that stimulates adrenal glands to secrete cortisol - ACTH
• Growth hormone (GH)

Posterior pituitary gland;

• Affects kidneys to have Antidiuretic hormone – ADH or Vasopressin that regulates balance of water in body,
• Stimulates contraction of uterus to start labor and regulates secretion of “Oxytocin” that helps release of milk during breastfeeding.

Mostly benign tumors that are called adenoma and originate from various cell groups can develop from anterior pituitary gland and only a very small part of them (5%) can have family history. Patients seek medical help for varying complaints and symptoms depending on the hormone produced by adenoma and its amount. Adenoma-related diseases are acromegaly, prolactinoma, Cushing disease, TSHoma and gonadotropinoma.

Pituitary adenoma is detected in two ways. It is incidentally detected in an imaging study (Magnetic Resonance Imaging – MRI) that is ordered upon suspect of physician or in “MRI of Cranium or the Neck” ordered for non-pituitary causes, such as head trauma, herniated cervical disc, sinusitis or hearing problems. “Pituitary incidentaloma” is called pituitary adenoma that is incidentally detected. The condition requires hormonal analyses.