Pituitary tumors are a group of tumors that occur from the anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary gland and the remnant cells of the craniopharyngeal duct epithelium. The majority of pituitary tumors are benign adenomas and very few are carcinomas.
According to the functional classification, pituitary tumors are divided into functional pituitary tumors and non-functional pituitary tumors. This classification method is most commonly used in clinical practice.
1. PRL tumor: It is common in women and typically manifests as amenorrhea, breast discharge and infertility. In males, the symptoms are hypogonadism, impotence, mammary gland development and infertility.
2.GH tumor: Overgrowth and gigantism may occur in immature patients. In adults, it is a manifestation of acromegaly.
3.ACTH tumor: clinical manifestations are centripetal obesity, full-moon face, buffalo back, polycythemia, purple skin pattern, and increase of fine hair. Some patients also have hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypokalemia, osteoporosis, fracture, etc.
4.TSH tumor: It is rare, due to the overproduction of thyroid hormone by the pituitary gland, causing hyperthyroidism symptoms.
5.FSH/LH tumor: Very rare, with hypogonadism, amenorrhea, infertility, and reduced sperm count.