What exactly is a pituitary adenoma?
A pituitary adenoma is a slow-growing benign tumor that originates in the cells that form the pituitary gland. The function of the pituitary gland is to regulate the rest of the glands that secrete hormones that are very important for the correct functioning of the organism.
Pituitary tumors are relatively common, and when they develop in adults they can cause serious problems, which can arise either because of their size (due to compression of nearby nerve structures or excessive secretion of hormones).
What are the symptoms of pituitary adenoma?
The most common symptoms of this pathology are caused by hypersecretion by hormones or abnormal growth due to compression of nerve structures. The most common symptoms are:
By compression of nearby structures may produce:
- Visual disturbances. Some examples would be the loss of visual field, blurred vision, double vision or ptosis in one of the eyelids.
- Headache.
- Nausea and vomiting.
Due to hormonal hypersecretion:
- Acromegaly, i.e., unusual growth of hands, feet, chin, nose and acral parts in general.
- Milk secretion from the breast.
- Amenorrhea.
- Impotence or loss of libido.
- Drowsiness or tiredness.
What are the causes?
The origin or causes of the appearance and development of pituitary adenomas in adults are unknown. As such, there are no risk factors such as a sedentary lifestyle or the consumption of tobacco or alcohol that favor their appearance.
Presumably, as yet unknown genetic factors may facilitate their development. They appear spontaneously in the individual and it is not hereditary so it is not transmitted in the offspring.
What are the risks of this adenoma?
The pituitary adenoma in its growth can acquire great size and become gigantic, in these cases it usually produces a severe and rapidly progressive loss of vision, which can lead to blindness. In these cases it is a priority to treat it preferably by surgery in order to recover the maximum visual function.
Another important problem associated with functioning pituitary adenomas, i.e. hormone producers such as Cushing’s disease or acromegaly, is that they usually cause a serious alteration in the metabolism of the person who may develop other complications such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, etc. These problems secondary to the metabolic alteration produce a great deterioration in the patient’s quality of life and can lead to a decrease in life expectancy. Early treatment by surgery can solve these associated metabolic problems.
How can it be treated?
More than 80% of pituitary adenomas are treated surgically. Only prolactin-producing adenomas can be treated with medication.
Currently, surgery for pituitary adenomas is performed by an endoscopic endonasal approach by a group of experts in minimally invasive skull base surgery. This operation is performed using an endoscope or camera that allows us to direct the different instruments that are introduced through the nostrils, in order to approach the sella turcica, at the end of the nose, which is the bone where the pituitary gland and the tumor rest. Once the sella turcica has been opened, the tumor can be removed. One of the benefits of this type of approach is that it allows neurosurgeons to remove the tumor without touching the brain. Although the risks of the operation depend on the size and location of the tumor, it is usually a very safe operation with a low complication rate.
For more information about pituitary adenoma, please consult with a Neurosurgery specialist.