We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Conditions

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is an Enlarged Pituitary Gland?

By C. Webb
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 69,192
Share

The pituitary gland regulates hormones throughout the body. When this gland is larger than usual, it can cause multiple symptoms throughout the body. Several medical conditions can be responsible for the problem, and once it is suspected, a patient is typically referred to an endocrinologist for evaluation and treatment. Treatments can include anything from medication to surgery.

Symptoms of an enlarged gland include frequent headaches, disturbances in vision, excessive sweating, and blood pressure irregularities. In addition, the pituitary gland can interfere with thyroid functioning. Drooping eyelids, nausea, and vomiting are also indicators of an enlarged pituitary gland.

Endocrinologists are usually called in to diagnose problems with the pituitary gland. A primary care physician will usually refer the patient to the specialist when an enlarged gland is suspected. Diagnosis is made through blood testing, medical history, symptom charting, and an MRI scan or CT scan of the brain. Once an enlarged gland is discovered, the search for a cause and treatment begins.

Treating an enlarged pituitary gland involves treating the cause. If there is a tumor in the gland, surgical removal or radiation treatments are in order. If there is bleeding into the gland, the cause must be located and the bleeding stopped. Diseases causing the gland to enlarge must be treated, which will typically reduce the gland. If the gland is enlarged due to inadequate or overproduction of hormones, hormone therapy is prescribed.

The risks of not treating an enlarged pituitary gland can be serious. If there are vision disturbances due to the gland pressing on the optic nerves, going blind is possible. For hormone issues, the heart, brain, and nervous system can all become adversely affected. Anytime there is bleeding in the brain, including bleeding into the pituitary gland, life-threatening consequences can occur. While an enlarged gland is almost always due to an underlying cause, the consequences of not treating the condition can be serious.

Little can be done to prevent a pituitary gland from becoming enlarged. Once it does occur, treatment of the underlying cause will normally reduce the gland to its original size. Following treatment, the prognosis is excellent in the majority of cases.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-is-an-enlarged-pituitary-gland.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.