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.

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.