Pituitary and Neuroendocrine disorders are often complex and difficult to diagnose. A variety of highly skilled doctors who collaborate and communicate about what is in the patient's best interests is utmost in importance. Often in addition to the endocrinologist,...
Why Is Early Diagnosis Such A Problem?
The confusing constellation of symptoms that can be produced by pituitary tumors and the difficult to visualize location make diagnosis very tricky. It is not uncommon for patients to have symptoms of either hormonal deficiency (caused by compression of the pituitary...
Are All Pituitary Tumors Created Equal?
No. There are more than a dozen very different disorders that result from pituitary tumors and disease. For example, if a tumor forms in an ACTH secreting pituitary cell, it could result in the overproduction of cortisol (Cushing's Disease) or the underproduction of...
How Prevalent Are Pituitary Tumors/Disease?
Autopsy reports and radiologic and MRI evidence from around the globe indicate that one out of every five people worldwide has a pituitary tumor. The earliest study took place in 1936, when Dr. R.T. Costello of the Mayo Foundation conducted a cadaver study and found...
Why Aren’t Pituitary Tumors/Disease Common Knowledge?
Pituitary tumors/disease present a vast array of symptoms, and it's often the symptoms that get treated, not the disease. As a result, pituitary patients can spend years being misdiagnosed as their tumors grow. People with undetected pituitary tumors can die of heart...
Where Do I Go To Get Treated?
Ideally you want to be seen by a pituitary endocrinologist associated with a neuroendocrine or pituitary unit with a pituitary testing facility. The interpretation of complex blood tests can result in misdiagnoses. This can be associated with microadenomas (very small...
How Are Pituitary Tumors Treated?
It depends on the type of tumor and how far it has invaded into the brain, as well as the patient's age and overall health. Three kinds of treatment are used: surgery (removing the tumor during an operation), radiation therapy (using high-dose x-rays/proton beams to...
Is There A Long Recovery Process From Pituitary Tumor Surgery?
In most cases, no. Patients often report immediate relief from symptoms after Transphenoidal Hypophysectomy and little pain. Some leave the hospital the same day.
Where Do I Go To Get Tested?
It is important to go to a hospital with a Neuroendocrine Unit or Pituitary Testing Facility, preferably both. (This may necessitate plane travel, but it would be worth every penny.) Pituitary blood tests can be very complicated and must be performed by specially...
What Is The Pituitary?
The pituitary is a small, pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain that functions as "The Master Gland." From its lofty position above the rest of the body it sends signals to the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, ovaries and testes, directing them to produce...