Your pituitary gland is a pea-sized structure but it has a lot of influence as it produces hormones that affect nearly every system in your body. That also means symptoms of pituitary disorders are very diverse and it takes endocrinology experts like the team at Arkangel Endocrinology & Diabetes in Phoenix, Arizona, to provide the care you need. The team narrows down the potential disorder you may have, performs the right diagnostic tests, and determines the true cause of your symptoms. To schedule an appointment, call the office or use online booking.
The pituitary gland is tucked into a bony hollow behind the bridge of your nose. The gland, which is attached to your brain by a stalk containing nerves and blood vessels, produces the following hormones:
In addition to producing growth hormone, these pituitary hormones regulate your adrenal gland, thyroid gland, and the male and female reproductive systems.
A benign pituitary gland tumor is the most common cause of pituitary disorders. There are two general types of pituitary tumors:
When a tumor is small and nonfunctional, it usually doesn’t cause problems. However, nonfunctional tumors can grow large enough to cause headaches, vision problems, and pituitary insufficiency, which is a drop in the production of one or more hormones.
Functional tumors actively produce hormones, causing high hormone levels. The three most common problems caused by functional tumors include:
Acromegaly causes gigantism when it occurs in children, but it also affects middle-aged adults who may develop enlarged hands and feet, headaches, irregular periods, impotence, and vision loss.
Hypopituitarism occurs when the pituitary gland doesn’t produce the right amount of one or more hormones. You could have low levels of any of the pituitary hormones, leading to a wide range of health problems and symptoms.
Here are two examples of hypopituitary problems:
Your treatment is determined by the underlying problem and whether you have excessive or deficient hormone levels. In most cases, treatments come down to one of three major options: hormone replacement therapy, surgery to remove a tumor, or radiation therapy to shrink a tumor.
If you have generic symptoms or you just don’t feel right and you don’t know why, you’ll find answers with a thorough evaluation at Arkangel Endocrinology & Diabetes. Call the office or book an appointment online.