Ask the Expert

Get answers to your Gamma Knife questions.

Note: This is for informational purposes only. Doctors cannot provide a diagnosis or individual treatment advice via e-mail. Please consult your physician about your specific health care concerns.

Pituitary tumor - Symptom

Alternative Names

Tumor - pituitary

Symptoms:

Most pituitary tumors produce too much of one or more hormones. As a result, symptoms of one or more of the following conditions can occur:

Symptoms caused by pressure from a larger pituitary tumor may include:

Headache
Lethargy
Nasal drainage
Nausea and vomiting
Problems with the sense of smell
Visual changes
- Double vision
- Drooping eyelids
- Visual field loss

Rarely, these symptoms may occur suddenly and can be severe.

Signs and tests:

Your health care provider will perform a physical examination. The provider will note any problems with double vision and visual field, such as a loss of peripheral vision or the ability to see in certain areas.

Endocrine function tests include:

Cortisol levels:
- Dexamethasone suppression test
- Urine cortisol test
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels
Insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels
Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels
Serum prolactin levels
Testosterone/estradiol levels
Thyroid hormone levels:
- Free T4 test
- TSH test

Tests that help confirm the diagnosis include the following:

Formal visual field testing
MRI of head

Endocrine glands

Reviewed last on: 11/23/2009
Ari S. Eckman, MD, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Melmed S, Kleinberg D. Anterior pituitary. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 8.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

Connect with UMMC

© 2011 University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). All rights reserved.
UMMC is a member of the University of Maryland Medical System,
22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. TDD: 1-800-735-2258 or 1.866.408.6885

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)