The Pituitary gland, or hypophysis, is a pea size organ located right below you brain. Its main job is to secrete different hormones to your blood- each group of cells secretes a different type of hormone.
- A benign, non-cancerous, pituitary gland tumor is a type of growth that will not spread outside your gland to the rest of your body. It may grow locally, and cause problems because of it, but it is usually not a life-threatening disease.An abnormal growth of the pituitary gland can lead to a high or low level of hormones. Another effect of this overgrowth appears if it presses nearby parts of your brain and causes nerve damage, most commonly the one responsible for your vision.A Prolactinoma is the most common overgrowth of the pituitary. It secrets the hormone prolactin.This overgrowth is benign, not cancerous, but it can cause different symptoms.
-Craniopharyngioma is a rare benign brain tumor that begins near the pituitary gland. It can occur at any age, but it is more common in children and in older adults. There is a rare type of craniopharyngioma that is called papillary craniopharyngioma and, which typically contains a mutation in the gene called BRAF. It is special because there is a targeted biological therapy against BRAF mutation.
20 Alikes with Neoplasm of pituitary gland and craniopharyngeal duct
This group contains additional names:
- Craniopharyngioma
- Prolactinoma symptoms may inlcude vision problems, you may experience headache, decreased sex drive (libido) and bone loss.In women, prolactinoma can cause irregular menstrual cycle, trouble getting pregnant and milky discharge from your nipples.
In man it can cause erectile dysfunction, and decreased body hair growth.
-Craniopharyngioma symptoms may include changes in vision, fatigue, excessive urination, headaches. Children may grow slowly.
Blood tests- to measure hormone levels.
Imaging- MRI of your brain- to measure the size of the overgrowth
-The treatment for prolactinomas vary depending on it size and symptoms.
Medication is normally the first choice of treatment. A prolactinoma is usually treated with Dopamine agonists.
Surgery to remove the prolactinoma is needed if the medication causes Intolerable side effects, or the overgrowth is very large.
-Treatment for craniopharyngioma is typically surgical. After surgery, some are given radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and biological targeted therapy.
☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.
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Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:
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