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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffA pituitary tumor can cause trouble in two ways: physically and biochemically. When a pituitary tumor is relatively large — measuring close to 1/2 inch (1 centimeter) or more in diameter — it can exert physical pressure on the rest of the normal pituitary gland and nearby structures.
Symptoms related to tumor pressure
Signs and symptoms of extraneous pressure from a pituitary tumor can include:
- Headache
- Vision loss, particularly loss of peripheral vision
- Clear, watery nasal drainage
- Nausea and vomiting
- Seizures
- Symptoms of pituitary hormone deficiency
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Cold intolerance
- Constipation
- Low blood pressure
- Body hair loss
- Sexual dysfunction
- Unintended weight loss or gain
Symptoms related to hormone level changes
Some pituitary tumors, called functioning tumors, also produce hormones. Generally, this causes an overproduction of hormones, which in turn has various biochemical effects. Different types of functioning tumors can develop in your pituitary gland, each causing specific signs and symptoms:
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone-producing tumors. These pituitary tumors produce the hormone adrenocorticotropin, which stimulates your adrenal glands to make the hormone cortisol. When your adrenal glands produce too much cortisol, a condition called Cushing's syndrome occurs. Signs and symptoms of Cushing's syndrome may include weight gain around your midsection and upper back, exaggerated facial roundness, a characteristic hump on the upper part of your back, high blood pressure, muscle weakness, bruising, stretch marks and thinning of your skin.
- Growth hormone-producing tumors. These tumors produce excess growth hormone. The effects from excess growth hormone (acromegaly) may include coarsened facial features, enlarged hands and feet, excess sweating, high blood pressure and heart problems. Accelerated and excessive growth (gigantism) may occur in children.
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Prolactin-producing tumors. Overproduction of prolactin from a pituitary tumor (prolactinoma) can cause a decrease in normal levels of sex hormones — estrogen in women and testosterone in men. Excessive prolactin in the blood (hyperprolactinemia) can affect men and women differently.
In women, prolactinoma may cause irregular menstrual periods (oligomenorrhea), lack of menstrual periods (amenorrhea) and milky discharge from the breasts (galactorrhea).
In men, a prolactin-producing tumor may cause male hypogonadism, which may involve signs and symptoms such as enlarged breasts (gynecomastia), erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence, infertility, decrease in body hair, and loss of interest in sexual activity.
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone-producing tumors. When a pituitary tumor overproduces thyroid-stimulating hormone, your thyroid gland makes too much of the hormone thyroxine. This is a rare cause of hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid disease. Hyperthyroidism can accelerate your body's metabolism, causing sudden weight loss, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, and nervousness or irritability.
