1. A Small Gland With Many Jobs
The pituitary gland is located in the brain, just behind the nose. Although the pituitary gland is no bigger than a kidney bean, the hormones it releases and controls have far-reaching effects throughout the body. The pituitary gland makes prolactin, which enables a woman to produce breast milk after giving birth. The gland makes adrenocorticotropic hormone, which stimulates the adrenal gland to produce stress hormones. The pituitary gland also controls growth by producing the growth hormone, and it works in conjunction with the thyroid to control our heart rate, temperature and calcium level in the blood.
2. Not Always Cancer, but Still Problematic
Most pituitary-gland tumors are benign, which means they aren't cancerous and don't spread or metastasize to other parts of the body. However, pituitary-gland tumors can cause problems because they can press on vital parts of the brain. Therefore, doctors often discover pituitary-gland tumors after the patient experiences headaches or visual problems resulting from pressure on the part of the brain that controls sight.
3. Perplexing Symptoms All Point to One Source
When the pituitary gland malfunctions, the accompanying symptoms reflect the diverse jobs of this tiny organ. Functioning pituitary-gland tumors overproduce certain hormones, which can cause symptoms and side effects in other parts of the body. For example, a prolactin-producing tumor can cause a woman who's never had a child to produce breast milk. A growth-hormone-producing tumor can cause the hands, feet or face to grow in an adult. A thyroid-stimulating, growth-hormone-producing tumor can cause an increased heart rate.
4. Oxymoron: Non-Invasive Brain Surgery
The pituitary gland's location enables doctors to access tumors without compromising the skull. Using a non-invasive method called transsphenoidal surgery, the surgeon can access the pituitary gland through the sphenoid sinus, which is a nasal passage that lies in front of the gland. The doctor can make a half-inch incision and use a microscope to see the area of concern. The doctor then uses surgical tools to slice the tumor into pieces small enough to remove through the tiny incision.
5. Medicines Finish Off Surgery Leftovers
If the surgeon can't remove the entire pituitary-gland tumor, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy. This treatment uses high-energy X-rays aimed precisely at the treatment area to destroy the tumor tissue, while sparing the healthy brain tissue around it. Doctors can also give medicines to patients with functioning tumors to control the effect of the hormones. If the tumor was very slow-growing, doctors can observe patients for problems without giving further therapy until the tumor remnants grow large enough to cause further problems.
