What is pituitary pathology?

Anumber of pathologic processes occur in the region of. the pituitary gland. They include primary pituitary lesions that are unique to this site, as well as disorders arising in adjacent anatomical structures such as brain, blood vessels, nerves, and meninges.

How is pituitary Macroadenoma diagnosed?

The imaging study of choice is an MRI of the pituitary gland without and with gadolinium (a contrast agent). A brain MRI or CT scan will also reveal most pituitary macroadenomas but may not reveal smaller microadenomas.

What is a Macroadenoma of the pituitary gland?

A macroadenoma is a tumor that typically develops in the pituitary gland, a pea-sized organ behind the eyes. They are almost always noncancerous. There are two kinds of pituitary macroadenomas: Nonfunctioning, which don’t secrete hormones.

Is a pituitary tumor serious?

Most of these tumors are not cancerous. Pituitary cancer is very rare. Still, the tumors can cause serious problems, either because of their size (large tumors) or because they make extra hormones your body doesn’t need (functioning tumors). They’re typically treated with surgery, medicine, or radiation.

Who pituitary tumors classification?

They are classified into seven morphofunctional types and three lineages: lactotroph, somatotroph and thyrotroph (PIT1 lineage), corticotroph (TPIT lineage) or gonadotroph (SF1 lineage), null cell or immunonegative tumor and plurihormonal tumors.

What types of pituitary tumors are there?

Below are the main types of pituitary tumors.

• Nonfunctional adenomas (null cell adenomas) These tumors are the most common type.
• Prolactin-producing tumors (prolactinomas) These benign tumors are also common.
• ACTH-producing tumors.
• Growth hormone-producing tumors.

WHO classification Tumours of endocrine organs?

The WHO Classification of Tumours of Endocrine Organs is the tenth volume in the 4th Edition of the WHO series on histological and genetic typing of human tumours.

What is the prognosis of pituitary macroadenomas?

Microadenomas do not cause excess mortality. These tumors generally are too small to cause pain, diplopia, or pressure on the optic chiasm. Otherwise-normal anterior and posterior pituitary function remains intact. Any morbidity is caused by excessive hormone secretionor patient anxiety.

How dangerous is pituitary surgery?

In case of damage to the arteries, brain tissue, nerves near the pituitary gland during the time of pituitary tumor surgery may lead to complications like permanent brain damage, blindness, or stroke but even these complications are rare. In case during the surgery there is some damage to the meninges, it can lead to CSF leak.

What is the recovery time after pituitary tumor surgery?

Recovery after pituitary tumor surgery begins immediately in the hospital with close monitoring of vision, fluid intake and output and any nasal discharge from the surgery site. Expect to be out of work an average of about two weeks, depending on the type of work you do, according to Pituitary.org.

How are pituitary microadenomas treated?

In general, treatments for a pituitary microadenoma can include: Drug therapy Surgery (removing the microadenoma in an operation) Radiation therapy (using high-dose x-rays to kill microadenoma cells).