Pituitary tumors are abnormal growths within the pituitary gland, growth hormones and functions of other glands in the body available.
The pituitary is a pea-sized, reddish gray organ in the center of the brains behind the nose and above.
Pituitary tumors are in both sexes, usually by the third or fourth decade of life. These tumors are very common with 25% of those under smallpituitary tumors at autopsy, but most are asymptomatic and the vast majority of pituitary adenomas go undiagnosed throughout life.
Types of pituitary tumors
The species are known to do the type of hormones and prolactin pituitary adenoma producers, adenomas secreting growth hormone, ACTH-secreting adenomas, adenomas secreting gonadotropin, thyrotropin-secreting adenomas, adenomas null and adenomas of different types of cells. Another form of cancer of the pituitary gland appears as a very large hands, feet and face (acromegaly). Three types of tissue, including tumors of the pituitary chromophobe adenoma (90%), basophils, and eosinophils adenoma adenomas.
Causes
Although the exact cause is unknown, a predisposition to pituitary tumors can be inherited by an autosomal dominant. chromophobe adenoma may be associated with the production of melanocyte-related hormone corticotropin, growth hormone and prolactin. Basophil adenoma with excess corticotropin production and, consequently, Cushing’s syndrome. Eosinophilic adenoma with excess secretion of growth hormone.
Symptoms and signs
As pituitary tumors grow, they replace normal glandular tissue and increase the fabric, the house of the pituitary gland (sella). The resulting pressure on adjacent intracranial structures produces typical symptoms: the head of headaches, visual disturbances, personality changes or dementia, seizures, head tilting and dizziness, strabismus, a nystagmus, nausea and vomiting, or one of the production problems caused by many hormones, such as infertility or loss of menstruation in women, abnormal growth, high blood pressure, heat or cold intolerance and skin and other body changes.
Diagnosis
An MRI is now considered the imaging method of choice for diagnosis of diseases of the pituitary gland because of its multiplanar capability and good contrast enhancement of soft tissues. The final diagnosis depends on histological identification of the tumor found at surgery.
Treatment
The treatment of pituitary tumors in surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy can be used as primary treatment of pituitary tumors or in addition to surgery. Medical treatment includes the replacement of hormones in hypopituitarism or suppression of hormonal secretion of functional tumors.
Predicting the pituitary cancer
Although the prognosis depends on the type of pituitary tumor and the patient’s age and health-pituitary tumors usually curable, although many people continue to have hormone replacement, sometimes for the rest of their lives.
Dick Aronson has a background of over 35 years in various facets of the medical industry. He hung up and ran clinical trials in over 20 countries and has a number of small private businesses health related. Dick now runs a number of informative websites Go to Health Health Innovations Online and Go Online Cancer Information