For something the size of a pea, your pituitary gland does an immense amount of work.
It’s connected to your hypothalamus (your brain’s base) and is situated directly behind your nose. It’s made up of an anterior (front) and posterior (back) lobe, and each releases different hormones.
Your endocrine system produces and delivers hormones through your blood to various organs, muscles, and tissues — it’s an elaborate and amazingly sophisticated chemical messaging system.
Pituitary adenomas are among the most common brain tumors, with clinically apparent tumors affecting roughly 1 in 1,000 people. Fortunately, the vast majority of them are adenomas, which are benign, or noncancerous.
Interestingly, it’s thought that many more people are living with them, but they often go undiagnosed because they’re tiny and don’t present symptoms or cause discomfort.
Board-certified neurosurgeons Dr. David Westra and Dr. Katherine Wagner at Ventura Neurosurgery in Midtown, Ventura, California, specialize in diagnosing and treating pituitary adenomas. Their experience, skill, and compassion enable them to provide education, guidance, and treatment to patients who discover they have a pituitary adenoma.
We weren’t kidding when we said your pituitary gland ensures that a host of important processes happen in your body. It releases:
These are just a few of the many hormones your pituitary gland releases, but it also directs other endocrine system glands to release hormones.
Certain types of pituitary adenomas, such as prolactin‑secreting tumors, are more common in women, especially in their reproductive years. Other types are more often found in older adults.
Sometimes there’s a genetic link, and the development of a pituitary adenoma is related to certain genetic syndromes. Additionally, pituitary adenomas are classified according to whether they produce excess hormones.
Functioning (secreting) adenomas release extra pituitary gland hormones. Symptoms that emerge with functioning adenomas vary because they’re dependent on which hormones are released.
Non-functioning (non-secreting) adenomas don’t release extra hormones but cause problems if they grow and put pressure on other structures. Many pituitary adenomas are non‑functioning, while others produce excess hormones such as prolactin, growth hormone, or ACTH.
Providers also classify pituitary adenomas by size — microadenomas are under 10 millimeters, while macroadenomas are 10 millimeters or larger. Pituitary adenomas are often classified as microadenomas or macroadenomas, and many series show a roughly even split between the two.
Macroadenomas can get so big that they compress the tissue surrounding them, and this can cause wide-ranging symptoms, such as:
Pituitary hormone deficiencies cause varying symptoms depending on which hormone(s) are affected, and macroadenomas often lead to an underactive pituitary gland (hypopituitarism).
Every pituitary adenoma is different, so treatment must be customized to each patient. If an adenoma is tiny, no treatment may be needed. True pituitary cancers (pituitary carcinomas) are extremely rare. Most pituitary tumors are benign adenomas that don’t spread to other parts of the body.
During surgery, we can analyze tumor tissue and work with your oncologist to create the best treatment plan for you. Available treatments, depending on the type and size of the pituitary adenoma, include:
When a pituitary adenoma causes a hormonal imbalance, treatment depends on the type of tumor. Many hormone‑secreting tumors are treated with surgery, while prolactin‑secreting tumors are often managed first with medication.
Our board-certified neurosurgeons use sophisticated navigation systems so they can precisely locate your tumor and remove it, with the ability to leave your neurological functioning fully intact and posing no threat to healthy brain tissue.
If you’re diagnosed with a pituitary adenoma, you’re in the best hands at Ventura Neurosurgery. We’re committed to thoroughly preparing you for surgery, performing it with great care, and guiding and supporting you through your recovery.
Contact our office at 805-590-4365 to schedule an appointment or via our website.
