There are many types of pituitary tumors and thus the clinical manifestations vary widely. Many patients visit the clinic for menstrual disorders and infertility, and they choose to visit endocrinology and gynecology first, while some patients visit ophthalmology first because of vision loss and finally refer to neurosurgery for surgical treatment after all kinds of exclusion, resulting in the mistake of the preferred department and delaying the disease. In fact, the symptoms of pituitary adenoma are very obvious and can be seen by yourself.
Pituitary adenoma, commonly known as “pituitary tumor”, is one of the common intracranial tumors that grows out of the anterior pituitary gland, and most of them are benign. Many people do not know much about this disease, and some people are particularly stressed out by pituitary tumors, and their first reaction is fear and dread, always worrying about malignancy. In fact, most pituitary tumors are benign, and malignant pituitary tumors are very rare. According to the American epidemiological survey, the incidence of pituitary adenoma is 7.5-15/100,000, which means that its incidence is very high. Pituitary tumors usually occur in young adulthood and often affect a person’s growth and development, physiological function, learning and working ability, etc.
I. Common symptoms of pituitary tumor
1.Loss of vision and change of visual field
If a normal person often experiences vision loss or collision in the process of walking or driving, it is important to pay attention to this time, why is this? This is because the tumor in the saddle area will cause the patient’s vision to decrease and the visual field to be damaged. If not treated in time, the visual field defect can be enlarged again, and there is also a decrease in vision to total blindness.
2. Amenorrhea, overflow of breast milk, and reduced sexual function
If the adolescent child does not grow, the secondary sexual characteristics do not develop, such as girls do not develop breasts, do not have menstruation, boys do not grow external genitalia, do not grow a beard, parents should pay attention to the child is a pituitary gland problems.
Adult female women mainly show amenorrhea, breast overflow, infertility, heavy axillary hair loss, pale and delicate skin, increased subcutaneous fat, easy tiredness, drowsiness, headache, etc. Women of childbearing age should be especially alert to the fact that if their menstruation was normal, but suddenly their menstrual cycle becomes longer, prolonged for two months, three months or even no longer, if they are not pregnant, in addition to possible gynecological problems, they should also think about whether it is a pituitary adenoma, which often leads to irregular menstruation in women, and this irregularity is often a prolonged cycle, so they must pay attention at this time.
In men, the main manifestations are loss of libido, impotence, breast enlargement, beard thinning, and in severe cases, atrophy of the reproductive organs, reduced sperm count, and infertility. In addition to checking the reproductive system, we should also pay attention to whether there are any problems with the pituitary gland, and these patients are often delayed in male or urological consultations.
3. Facial changes, getting ugly
This kind of patients belong to growth hormone pituitary tumor, because the secretion of excessive growth hormone, resulting in excessive growth of minors, and even develop into giants, called “gigantism”. As an adult, the patient’s face changes, the forehead becomes bigger, the jaw protrudes, the nose is big and the lips are thick, the hands and feet are big, the shoes and hats are tight, the larger models are changed several times, and even special production is necessary, and some patients have more meals, rough hair and skin, pigmentation, numbness of fingers, etc.
4.Obesity, full moon face
This kind of patient belongs to pro-adrenocorticotropic hormone type pituitary tumor, mainly manifested as centripetal obesity, full-moon face, body buffalo back, abdominal thigh skin with purple lines, hairy, etc., heavy patients have general weakness, even bedridden. Some patients also have hypertension, diabetes, etc.
5.Other symptoms
If the growth of tumor compresses or obstructs a certain area, it may cause symptoms of increased intracranial pressure such as polyuria, headache and vomiting, and also mental symptoms, even coma and paralysis.
Treatment of pituitary tumor
Although pituitary tumors grow inside the skull, thankfully they do not require craniotomy for treatment. Pituitary adenoma resection through the nasal aperture-paranasal sinus approach is the most common surgical method in pituitary tumor treatment and has been widely used internationally for a long time. Most patients are suitable for this procedure, and it has the advantage of being less invasive and more effective. Moreover, not all pituitary adenomas need to be surgically removed, some medications are also available, and some do not even need to be treated, but only need to be observed for a long period of time, although this requires a decision to be made under the consultation and guidance of an experienced doctor.
Postoperative effects of pituitary tumor
The postoperative effect of pituitary tumor is very remarkable with good recovery. Not only can it improve vision, broaden vision and improve the normal menstrual cycle of women, but it does not affect future pregnancy and life. Post-operative review is only needed regularly, about once or twice a year for 5 years.
Pituitary tumors are easy to diagnose if you think about it, but if you don’t think about it, you are often transferred around in primary care hospitals, where you can’t find out even after spending all the money and delaying the treatment. Because headache is not the most common symptom of pituitary tumor, many patients do not think of checking their head in the first place, but as long as you have some knowledge and understanding of pituitary tumor, it is generally not difficult to diagnose. Nowadays, CT and MRI are very popular and both can make definite diagnosis of brain tumor in early stage. Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital is the most authoritative tumor hospital in the province, all kinds of examination means are the most advanced, and the doctor will make diagnosis and treatment according to your specific condition. The neurosurgery department of this hospital has the most advanced electromagnetic nerve navigation system in the world, which adds an insurance for the operation and protects your health.