Abnormal Pituitary

Also known as: Abnormal pituitary gland, pituitary gland disorders, pituitary disorders

What is abnormal pituitary?

When a person has an abnormality of the pituitary gland, it produces either too much or too little of a particular hormone, which can lead to a number of other disorders. In many an instance, the pituitary gland may show an abnormal appearance but may be a normal variation amongst people.

What causes abnormal pituitary?

A benign, or non-malignant/not cancerous pituitary tumor is the most common pituitary disorder. In young children, an underdeveloped pituitary may be the result of a genetic disorder. Rare causes include a traumatic brain injury, radiation, bleeding into the pituitary gland or infections.

What are the symptoms of abnormal pituitary?

Depending on whether the pituitary is enlarged, as it can cause pressure on other brain tissue and cause headaches, dizziness or vision problems, or whether it is producing too much or too little of one or more hormones, symptoms will vary. Some common problems include problems with growth and development, weight loss or gain, sexual dysfunction, weakness, nausea and vomiting, menstrual problems, high blood pressure, acne, depression and multiple other symptoms.

What are abnormal pituitary care options?

Depending on the cause, and its effects, medications to replace or regulate the production of a specific hormone/s abnormality (or abnormalities) may be required. Treatments to shrink the tumor (if present) including radiation therapy or surgical removal may be necessary.

Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: November 19, 2021 04:09 PM

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