Condition Lookup

Prolactinoma (Hyperprolactinemia)

Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology

Symptoms:
irregular menstrual periods; galactorrhea (milk discharge); reduced libido; infertility; headaches; vision disturbances

Root Cause:
Caused by a benign tumor (adenoma) of the pituitary gland, leading to excessive production of prolactin.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests to measure prolactin levels, MRI or CT scans of the pituitary gland.

Treatment:
Dopamine agonists to reduce prolactin levels and shrink the tumor, surgery in resistant cases, or radiation therapy if surgery is unsuccessful.

Medications:
Bromocriptine and cabergoline (dopamine agonists) are commonly prescribed to reduce prolactin levels and shrink the tumor.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Most common type of pituitary adenoma, affecting approximately 40% of pituitary tumor cases.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Female gender, use of medications affecting dopamine, hypothyroidism.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good with treatment; medications are effective in most cases, and surgery is typically successful if needed.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Infertility, osteoporosis, compression of nearby brain structures causing vision loss or other neurological issues.

Acromegaly (Excess Growth Hormone)

Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology

Category: Pituitary Disorders

Sub-category: Pituitary Tumors

Symptoms:
enlargement of hands and feet; facial changes (e.g., protruding jaw); joint pain; deepened voice; headaches; vision disturbances; insulin resistance

Root Cause:
Caused by a benign tumor (adenoma) in the pituitary gland leading to overproduction of growth hormone (GH).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Elevated IGF-1 levels, oral glucose tolerance test for GH suppression, MRI of the pituitary gland.

Treatment:
Surgery to remove the tumor, medications to inhibit GH production, and radiation therapy if surgery and medications are insufficient.

Medications:
Somatostatin analogs (e.g., octreotide , lanreotide ), GH receptor antagonists (e.g., pegvisomant ), and dopamine agonists (e.g., cabergoline ).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, with approximately 3-4 cases per million people annually.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Typically occurs in middle-aged adults; no significant hereditary predisposition.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Early treatment improves outcomes; untreated acromegaly can lead to significant complications and reduced life expectancy.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, arthritis, and compression of surrounding brain structures.

Cushing’s Disease (Pituitary ACTH Overproduction)

Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology

Category: Pituitary Disorders

Sub-category: Pituitary Tumors

Symptoms:
weight gain; moon face; buffalo hump (fat pad on the back of the neck); skin thinning; purple striae (stretch marks); muscle weakness; hypertension; osteoporosis

Root Cause:
Caused by a pituitary adenoma producing excessive adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), leading to overproduction of cortisol by the adrenal glands.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
24-hour urinary free cortisol test, dexamethasone suppression test, blood ACTH levels, and pituitary MRI.

Treatment:
Transsphenoidal surgery to remove the tumor, medications to suppress cortisol production, and radiation therapy if necessary.

Medications:
Ketoconazole , metyrapone , or mitotane (cortisol synthesis inhibitors) and pasireotide (a somatostatin analog) to lower ACTH production.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, affecting 10-15 people per million annually.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Women are more frequently affected; typically occurs in adults aged 20-50 years.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Treatment is effective in most cases, though recurrence can occur; untreated, it can lead to severe complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, infections, osteoporosis, and psychiatric disturbances.

Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenomas

Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology

Category: Pituitary Disorders

Sub-category: Pituitary Tumors

Symptoms:
headaches; vision problems (e.g., loss of peripheral vision); hormonal deficiencies; fatigue; infertility

Root Cause:
Benign tumors of the pituitary gland that do not secrete active hormones but can compress nearby structures, causing symptoms.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
MRI of the pituitary gland, blood tests for pituitary hormone levels.

Treatment:
Surgery (transsphenoidal resection) to remove the tumor; radiation therapy for residual or recurrent tumors; hormone replacement therapy for deficiencies.

Medications:
Hormone replacement therapy (e.g., hydrocortisone , levothyroxine , sex steroids, or growth hormone) for pituitary deficiencies caused by the tumor.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Approximately 15-30% of pituitary tumors are non-functioning adenomas.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Middle-aged adults; no specific hereditary risk factors identified.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good with surgery; hormone deficiencies may require lifelong management.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Vision loss, hypopituitarism, and compression of nearby brain structures causing neurological deficits.

Hypopituitarism (Deficiency of Pituitary Hormones)

Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology

Category: Pituitary Disorders

Sub-category: Pituitary Insufficiency

Symptoms:
fatigue; weakness; weight changes; cold intolerance; low libido; decreased appetite; nausea; dizziness; infertility; growth delays in children

Root Cause:
Reduced or absent production of one or more pituitary hormones due to damage or dysfunction of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests to measure hormone levels (e.g., ACTH, TSH, GH, LH, FSH), MRI of the pituitary gland, stimulation tests for specific hormones.

Treatment:
Hormone replacement therapy tailored to the deficient hormones (e.g., cortisol, thyroid hormone, sex hormones, growth hormone).

Medications:
Hormone replacement medications include hydrocortisone or prednisone for adrenal insufficiency (glucocorticoids), levothyroxine for hypothyroidism (thyroid hormone replacement), and testosterone or estrogen/progesterone for hypogonadism (sex hormone therapy). Recombinant human growth hormone (GH) may be prescribed for growth hormone deficiency.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Estimated to affect approximately 45 per 100,000 people.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Pituitary tumors, traumatic brain injury, radiation therapy to the head, autoimmune conditions, infections, genetic mutations.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Lifelong management is required with good outcomes if hormone replacement is adequate.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Adrenal crisis, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, infertility, psychological effects such as depression or anxiety.

Diabetes Insipidus (Central and Nephrogenic)

Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology

Category: Pituitary Disorders

Symptoms:
excessive thirst (polydipsia); excessive urination (polyuria); nocturia; dehydration; dry skin; fatigue; electrolyte imbalances

Root Cause:
Central DI results from inadequate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) due to damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary. Nephrogenic DI results from the kidneys' inability to respond to ADH.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Water deprivation test, urine osmolality tests, blood electrolyte levels, MRI of the brain to assess the pituitary gland.

Treatment:
Treated with desmopressin to replace vasopressin, while nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is managed with a low-sodium diet, thiazide diuretics, and addressing the underlying cause.

Medications:
Desmopressin (antidiuretic hormone analog) for Central DI; thiazide diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide ) and NSAIDs (e.g., indomethacin ) for Nephrogenic DI.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Central DI is rare, occurring in 1 in 25,000 people. Nephrogenic DI prevalence varies depending on genetic or acquired causes.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Head trauma, brain surgery, autoimmune conditions, genetic mutations, chronic kidney disease, lithium therapy.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with appropriate treatment, though lifelong management may be necessary.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, kidney damage, cardiovascular issues from chronic dehydration.

Sheehan’s Syndrome (Postpartum Hypopituitarism)

Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology

Category: Pituitary Disorders

Sub-category: Postpartum Endocrine Disorders

Symptoms:
fatigue; inability to lactate; loss of pubic and axillary hair; low blood pressure; cold intolerance; weight loss; amenorrhea; nausea

Root Cause:
Pituitary gland necrosis caused by severe blood loss or hypovolemic shock during or after childbirth.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history of postpartum hemorrhage, blood tests for hormone levels, MRI of the pituitary gland.

Treatment:
Lifelong hormone replacement therapy, including cortisol (hydrocortisone or prednisone), levothyroxine, and sex hormones as needed.

Medications:
Hydrocortisone or prednisone for adrenal insufficiency, levothyroxine for thyroid hormone replacement, and estrogen/progesterone or testosterone for sex hormone deficiency.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in about 1 in 10,000 deliveries, more common in low-resource settings with inadequate obstetric care.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Severe postpartum hemorrhage, prolonged labor, multiple pregnancies, anemia, low-resource settings.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Manageable with appropriate hormone replacement therapy, but quality of life depends on timely diagnosis and treatment.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Adrenal crisis, infertility, osteoporosis, psychological effects such as depression or anxiety.

Empty Sella Syndrome

Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology

Category: Pituitary Disorders

Sub-category: Other Pituitary Disorders

Symptoms:
headaches; vision problems; hormonal imbalances such as irregular periods or reduced libido; fatigue; low stress tolerance

Root Cause:
The sella turcica, a bony structure that houses the pituitary gland, is partially or completely filled with cerebrospinal fluid, compressing the pituitary gland and potentially impairing its function.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed through MRI or CT scans of the brain, blood tests to assess pituitary hormone levels, and a clinical evaluation of symptoms.

Treatment:
Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and underlying hormonal deficiencies with hormone replacement therapy or addressing the cause, if identifiable.

Medications:
Hormone replacement therapy is the primary treatment. This may include levothyroxine (for hypothyroidism), corticosteroids (for adrenal insufficiency), or desmopressin (for diabetes insipidus).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Estimated to occur in approximately 8–35% of the general population, often asymptomatic and detected incidentally.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Female gender, obesity, high blood pressure, a history of radiation therapy or surgery near the pituitary gland, or intracranial hypertension.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good, particularly if asymptomatic; prognosis depends on the degree of pituitary dysfunction.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Potential complications include chronic headaches, vision impairment, infertility, and severe hormone imbalances requiring lifelong management.

Craniopharyngioma

Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology

Category: Pituitary Disorders

Sub-category: Pituitary Tumors

Symptoms:
headaches; vision changes such as double vision or loss of peripheral vision; growth delays in children; fatigue; increased thirst and urination; hormonal deficiencies like hypothyroidism or adrenal insufficiency

Root Cause:
A benign tumor arising near the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, which can disrupt hormonal regulation, increase intracranial pressure, and compress nearby structures.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed through MRI or CT imaging, hormone level blood tests, and visual field testing.

Treatment:
Surgery to remove the tumor is the primary treatment, often followed by radiation therapy. Hormone replacement therapy is used to manage any resulting deficiencies.

Medications:
Hormone replacements, including levothyroxine for hypothyroidism, hydrocortisone or prednisone for adrenal insufficiency, and desmopressin for diabetes insipidus, may be prescribed. Somatropin (growth hormone) may be used for growth delays.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, with an incidence of approximately 1–2 cases per million per year; commonly diagnosed in children and older adults.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Genetic predisposition in rare cases; no known modifiable risk factors.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Prognosis depends on the success of surgical removal and management of hormone deficiencies. While the tumor is benign, recurrence and long-term hormonal therapy needs are common.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Potential complications include permanent hormonal deficiencies, vision loss, cognitive or behavioral changes, and recurrence of the tumor.