The pituitary sits at the base of the brain, just below the optic nerves (optic chiasm) and above the sphenoid sinus — the natural pathway surgeons use to reach it through the nose.
What Is a Pituitary Tumor?
A pituitary tumor is a growth that develops from the cells of the pituitary gland, the pea-sized "master gland" at the base of the brain. The great majority are benign (not cancer) and grow slowly. Doctors increasingly call them pituitary adenomas or pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs). They cause problems in one of two ways: by making too much of a hormone, or by growing large enough to press on nearby structures such as the optic nerves.
Are Pituitary Tumors Cancer?
Almost never. The overwhelming majority of pituitary tumors are benign adenomas that do not spread. True pituitary cancer (carcinoma) is extremely rare.
Functioning vs. Non-Functioning Tumors
Functioning (hormone-producing) tumors make too much of one hormone and cause a specific illness even when small — including prolactinomas (prolactin), acromegaly (growth hormone), and Cushing disease (ACTH). Non-functioning tumors make no active hormone and are often found only once they grow large enough to affect vision or crowd out the normal gland. See non-functioning pituitary tumors.
Symptoms of a Pituitary Tumor
Symptoms depend on the tumor's size and whether it makes a hormone, and generally fall into three groups: pressure effects (such as vision loss and headaches), hormone excess, and hormone deficiency. See the full list on our pituitary tumor symptoms page.
How Pituitary Tumors Are Diagnosed
Diagnosis usually rests on three things: a pituitary MRI, a panel of hormone blood tests, and a visual-field exam. Learn more on our diagnosis and testing page.
How Pituitary Tumors Are Treated
Not every pituitary tumor needs surgery — some are watched, and most prolactinomas are treated first with medication. When treatment is needed, the options are medication, surgery, and radiation. Most tumors that require an operation can be removed with minimally invasive transsphenoidal surgery through the nose.Become our Patient. Send us your MRI and recent bloodwork and our team will review your case. Call 813-333-1186 or fax records to 844-691-5928.