Anatom3DPituitary adenoma
Adenoma hypophysis · Adenom hypofýzy
What it is
A benign gland tumour that either oversecretes a hormone or presses on the optic nerves.
Symptoms & signs
- Tunnel vision (bitemporal hemianopia)
- headache
- milk production
- absent periods
- acromegaly features
- erectile dysfunction
🚩 Get help if…
- call 112 / 911 now Sudden severe headache with vomiting, double vision or a drooping eyelid
- see a doctor soon Losing the outer edges of vision, bumping into things
- see a doctor soon Milky discharge from the nipples, or periods stopping
- see a doctor soon Great thirst, passing lots of pale urine
Where it strikes
Medical treatment
- Cabergoline for prolactinoma
- transsphenoidal surgery
- somatostatin analogues for acromegaly
- radiotherapy
- hormone replacement afterwards
- pasireotide for Cushing's disease and acromegaly — approved (EMA, FDA) since 2012; raises blood sugar
Natural & lifestyle
- Visual field monitoring
- hormone replacement adherence
- bone health
Emerging & experimental
- Endoscopic extended approaches
- temozolomide for aggressive adenomas
Alternative, off-label & anecdotal
Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.
- Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus) — lowers prolactin in small studies; not a tumour treatment early / small studies
- Herbal or dietary 'tumour shrinking' — none shown to work anecdotal / traditional
ICD codes
- ICD-10 D35.2
- ICD-11 2F37.Y Other specified benign neoplasm of endocrine glands