Pituitary Growths

Pituitary Hormones:

Anterior

1. GH

2. PRL

3. ACTH

4. TSH

5. LH

6. FSH

7. MSH

Posterior

1. ADH

2. Oxytocin

Pituitary Diseases

Non hormone secreting

• Non functioning adenoma

• Craniopharngioma

• Pituitary apoplexy

• Sheehan's Syndrome

• Kallman's Syndrome 

Hormone secreting

• Acromegaly: hyper growth hormone

• Prolactin

  • Macroprolactinoma

  • Micrprolactinoma

• ACTH: cushing's disease

• TSH secreting pituitary tumour (rare)

• ADH: central Diabetes Insipidus 

Non Functioning Adenoma

• Growth by definition resulting in reduction of pituitary hormones

• Adrenal crisis: low ACTH, hyponatreamia/ hyperkalemia, hypotension +- postural drop

• Hypothyroidism: low TSH & T4

• Mildly raised prolactin & bitemporal hemianopia (peripheral vision loss)

Prolactinomas

Macroprolactinoma

• Loss of peripheral vision

• Prolactin > 5,000

• Management

  • Cabergoline

Microprolactinoma

• Modest raise in prolactin

• Nil pituitary failure or loss of peripheral vision

Resources and References

Written in 2025