Types of Pituitary Tumors

Almost all pituitary tumors are benign. How serious a pituitary tumor is depends on whether it is:

• Causing health problems by pressing on the pituitary gland or other parts of the nervous system
• Producing (secreting) excess hormones

Types of pituitary tumors:

• Adenomas
• Craniopharyngiomas
• Rathke's cleft cysts

Signs and symptoms of pituitary tumors:

A pituitary tumor causes symptoms by pushing on brain tissue surrounding the tumor or through excessive or impaired hormone production. Some pituitary tumors may not cause any symptoms.

The most common symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Vision problems that cannot be easily explained
• Menstrual cycle changes in women
• Mood swings or behavior changes
• Erectile dysfunction
• Weight change

Other symptoms include:

• Production of breast milk by a woman who has not given birth
• Accelerated or stunted growth in a child or teenager
• Growth of the hands, feet, forehead and jaw in adults
• Development of a round face, a hump between the shoulders or both
• Feeling very tired

Pituitary tumors are not usually diagnosed until symptoms appear.

For more information, contact the Johns Hopkins Pituitary Tumor Center at 410-955-GLAN (4526).