The pituitary gland, located at the base of the skull, is a small organ responsible for secreting various hormones. The pituitary is important for controlling temperature, growth, thyroid activity and sexual function. Because the pituitary is involved with so many different bodily functions, a dysfunctional pituitary can cause many different kinds of symptoms, making diagnosis of pituitary disease or tumors difficult.
Hormone Deficiency
When the pituitary does not produce and release enough of the hormones it should, a hormone deficiency occurs. A deficiency in gonadotropins, the sex hormones, can cause sexual dysfunction, hot flashes and irregular menstrual cycles. A deficiency in growth hormones produces symptoms such as a lack of energy, decreased ability to tolerate exercise and feelings of isolation. A deficiency in thyroid hormones causes constipation, intolerance to cold, muscle weakness, dry skin, hair loss and memory loss.
If the pituitary does not produce adequate amounts of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), the hormone responsible for stimulating the adrenal cortex, symptoms such as joint pain, nausea, vomiting and the ability to stand upright (orthostasis) can occur. The pituitary also releases IGF-1, an insulin growth factor, and too little of this hormone can trigger diabetes insipidus, a disorder of the kidneys. Symptoms of this include excessive thirst and excessive urination, especially at night.
Hormone Excess
A dysfunctional pituitary gland can also produce and release too much hormone. An increase in prolactin, one of the sexual hormones, can cause sexual dysfunction and galactorrhea, which is the spontaneous flow of milk from the breasts.
Overproduction of ACTH can stimulate the adrenal gland to produce an excess of cortisol, which can then cause Cushing's disease. Those with Cushing's disease may exhibit symptoms such as the rounding of the face (known as a moon face); facial flushing; purple stretch marks on the abdomen, thighs, breasts or arms; muscle weakness; fatigue; high blood pressure and weight gain, especially around the midsection.
Too much growth hormone, a condition known as Acromegaly, leads to symptoms including enlarged hands, feet or jaw; carpal tunnel syndrome, joint pain and oily skin.
Neurological
In addition to affecting hormone production, because of its proximity to the brain pituitary disease can also have neurological effects. The most common symptoms include vision impairment such as blurry vision, double vision, loss of peripheral vision and even sudden blindness. Other neurological symptoms can include facial numbness, headache, dizziness, loss of consciousness and seizures.
