Pituitary Tumor Symptoms

Pituitary gland tumors often do not have symptoms in the early stages. When they do have symptoms, they vary from person to person. Many patients live with pituitary tumors for years before the tumors are found. Symptoms typically are slow to develop and often are like those of other medical problems.

Symptoms caused by tumor growth

If a pituitary tumor grows too large, it may press on normal pituitary gland tissue. This can result in low levels of certain hormones. If the tumor presses against other parts of the body, symptoms may include headaches, double vision and/or loss of vision due to pressure on the optic nerves.

Symptoms of high or low hormone levels

Pituitary tumors can cause the body to make too much or too little of different hormones. The symptoms of these tumors depend on the specific hormone impacted. These hormones include:

Prolactin

Tumors that produce prolactin are the most common type of hormone-producing pituitary tumors. These growths can cause:

• In women, milky discharge from the nipples, irregular or absent menstrual periods and infertility.
• In men, erectile dysfunction and/or impotence, infertility, loss of body hair, decreased sex drive and, rarely, increased breast growth (called gynecomastia) and milky discharge from nipples.

Tumors that cause low prolactin levels can cause:

• In men, erectile dysfunction and/or impotence and decreased sex drive.
• In women, infertility, decreased sex drive and difficulty breast feeding.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)

Too much ACTH leads to Cushing disease. Symptoms of Cushing disease may include:

• Rounded "moon" face
• Weight gain, particularly in the trunk and abdomen
• Thinning of the skin
• Wide purple-red stretch marks
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Muscle weakness
• Slowing of growth (in children)

Symptoms of low ACTH levels include:

• Fatigue
• Muscle weakness
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea/vomiting
• Low blood pressure

Growth Hormone (GH)

In children, too much GH can lead to gigantism. If left untreated, children with too much GH often grow abnormally tall. This puts stress on the joints and cardiovascular system and is a risk factor for diabetes. Early treatment can prevent excessive growth. Symptoms of low GH levels in children include a short stature, delayed puberty, low muscle tone and high body fat levels.

In adults, too much GH causes acromegaly. The symptoms of acromegaly are:

• Hands, feet, jaw and/or forehead gradually grow larger
• Coarse facial features, such as thickened skin and enlarged nose or lips
• Heart problems
• High blood pressure
• Excessive sweating
• Headaches

Low GH levels in adults can cause:

• Increased body fat and less muscle mass
• Decreased strength and stamina
• Fatigue
• Osteoporosis
• Anxiety and/or depression
• High cholesterol levels

Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Too much TSH (hyperthyroidism) may cause:

• Weight loss
• Nervousness
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat

Too little TSH (hypothyroidism)

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Weight gain
• Slow heart rate and low blood pressure
• Brittle hair and nails

Other conditions with similar symptoms

These symptoms do not always mean you have a pituitary tumor. They can be caused by several other conditions, including

• Benign cysts
• Other benign tumors, including craniopharyngioma and pituicytoma
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Low testosterone levels
• Other endocrine conditions, including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

When to see a doctor about your symptoms

Many pituitary tumor symptoms can be serious. If you notice these symptoms, make an appointment with your primary care physician. Your doctor will order blood tests to evaluate hormone levels. Depending on the test result, you may then need an imaging exam and an appointment with an endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in treating the glands that produce hormones.

Pituitary tumor screening

Most people do not need to be screened for pituitary tumors.

Patients with a hereditary cancer syndrome connected to pituitary tumors should talk to their doctor about regular screening exams. These exams usually include blood tests and imaging exams.