What is a pituitary tumor?

A pituitary tumor is an unusual growth in a small gland at the base of the brain. This gland helps control many important hormones in your body. Most of these tumors are not cancer, but they can still affect how your body works by changing hormone levels.

What causes pituitary tumors?

In most cases, the cause is unknown. A rare inherited condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) can increase risk.

Symptoms

Symptoms can vary widely depending on how the tumor affects hormone production or nearby structures.

Common symptoms may include:

• Headaches
• Changes in vision, especially loss of side vision
• Fatigue or weakness

Hormone-related symptoms may include:

• Irregular or missed periods
• Breast discharge not related to pregnancy
• Low sex drive or fertility issues
• Unexplained weight changes
• Excess sweating or rapid heartbeat
• Changes in facial features, hands, or feet over time

Some tumors don’t cause symptoms and are found incidentally on imaging for other reasons.

How is it diagnosed?

Your provider will start with a discussion of your symptoms and a physical exam. Because these tumors affect hormones, testing often includes:

• Blood and urine tests to check hormone levels
• MRI scans to get detailed images of the brain
• CT scans if MRI is not available

A biopsy is rarely needed but may be used in certain cases.

How is it treated?

Treatment depends on the type of tumor, its size, and how it affects your body.

Common treatment approaches include:

• Monitoring: Small tumors without symptoms may only need regular checkups
• Medications: Some tumors can be controlled by adjusting hormone levels
• Surgery: Often used to remove tumors causing symptoms or pressure
• Radiation therapy: Targets tumor cells when surgery or medication isn’t enough

Recovery varies. Some people return to normal quickly, while others may need long-term follow-up or hormone replacement therapy.