Not all pituitary tumors cause symptoms. Sometimes these tumors are found during an imaging test, such as an MRI or a CT scan, that is done for another reason. If they don't cause symptoms, pituitary tumors usually don't need treatment. MRI CT Pituitary tumor symptoms may be caused by a tumor putting pressure on the brain or on other parts of the body nearby. Symptoms also can be caused by a hormone imbalance. Hormone levels can rise when a pituitary tumor makes too much of one or more hormones. Or a large tumor that disrupts the way the pituitary gland works may cause hormone levels to fall. Symptoms from tumor pressure Macroadenomas can put pressure on the pituitary gland, on nerves, on the brain and on other parts of the body nearby. That can cause symptoms such as:  Headache. Eye problems due to pressure on the optic nerve, especially loss of side vision, also called peripheral vision, and double vision. Pain in the face, sometimes including sinus pain or ear pain. Drooping eyelid. Seizures. Nausea and vomiting.  Symptoms from hormone changes            Cushing syndrome       Open pop-up dialog box          Close    Cushing syndrome   Cushing syndrome Left untreated, Cushing syndrome can result in exaggerated facial roundness, weight gain around the midsection and upper back, thinning of the arms and legs, easy bruising, and stretch marks.               Cushing syndrome       Open pop-up dialog box           Cushing syndrome       Open pop-up dialog box  Open pop-up dialog box       Close    Cushing syndrome   Cushing syndrome Left untreated, Cushing syndrome can result in exaggerated facial roundness, weight gain around the midsection and upper back, thinning of the arms and legs, easy bruising, and stretch marks.          Close    Cushing syndrome   Cushing syndrome Left untreated, Cushing syndrome can result in exaggerated facial roundness, weight gain around the midsection and upper back, thinning of the arms and legs, easy bruising, and stretch marks.        Close    Cushing syndrome   Cushing syndrome Left untreated, Cushing syndrome can result in exaggerated facial roundness, weight gain around the midsection and upper back, thinning of the arms and legs, easy bruising, and stretch marks.     Close    Close  Close Cushing syndrome   Cushing syndrome Left untreated, Cushing syndrome can result in exaggerated facial roundness, weight gain around the midsection and upper back, thinning of the arms and legs, easy bruising, and stretch marks.  Cushing syndrome Left untreated, Cushing syndrome can result in exaggerated facial roundness, weight gain around the midsection and upper back, thinning of the arms and legs, easy bruising, and stretch marks. Left untreated, Cushing syndrome can result in exaggerated facial roundness, weight gain around the midsection and upper back, thinning of the arms and legs, easy bruising, and stretch marks.            Illustration showing person with acromegaly       Open pop-up dialog box          Close    Illustration showing person with acromegaly   Illustration showing person with acromegaly Symptoms of acromegaly include an enlarged face and hands. Changes to the face may cause the brow bone and lower jawbone to protrude, and the nose and lips to get larger.               Illustration showing person with acromegaly       Open pop-up dialog box           Illustration showing person with acromegaly       Open pop-up dialog box  Open pop-up dialog box       Close    Illustration showing person with acromegaly   Illustration showing person with acromegaly Symptoms of acromegaly include an enlarged face and hands. Changes to the face may cause the brow bone and lower jawbone to protrude, and the nose and lips to get larger.          Close    Illustration showing person with acromegaly   Illustration showing person with acromegaly Symptoms of acromegaly include an enlarged face and hands. Changes to the face may cause the brow bone and lower jawbone to protrude, and the nose and lips to get larger.        Close    Illustration showing person with acromegaly   Illustration showing person with acromegaly Symptoms of acromegaly include an enlarged face and hands. Changes to the face may cause the brow bone and lower jawbone to protrude, and the nose and lips to get larger.     Close    Close  Close Illustration showing person with acromegaly   Illustration showing person with acromegaly Symptoms of acromegaly include an enlarged face and hands. Changes to the face may cause the brow bone and lower jawbone to protrude, and the nose and lips to get larger.  Illustration showing person with acromegaly Symptoms of acromegaly include an enlarged face and hands. Changes to the face may cause the brow bone and lower jawbone to protrude, and the nose and lips to get larger. Symptoms of acromegaly include an enlarged face and hands. Changes to the face may cause the brow bone and lower jawbone to protrude, and the nose and lips to get larger. Low amounts of hormones Macroadenomas can limit the pituitary gland's ability to make hormones. When that happens, symptoms may include:  Tiredness or weakness. Lack of energy. Sexual problems, such as problems with erections and less interest in sex. Changes in menstrual cycles. Nausea. Feeling cold. Losing or gaining weight without trying.  High amounts of hormones Functioning pituitary adenomas typically make a large amount of one hormone. That exposes the body to high levels of that hormone. Rarely, a pituitary adenoma may make more than one hormone. The following types of functioning pituitary adenomas cause different symptoms depending on the hormones they make. Pituitary tumors that make adrenocorticotropic hormone Pituitary tumors that make adrenocorticotropic hormone are called corticotroph adenomas. Adrenocorticotropic hormone, also called ACTH, causes the adrenal glands to make the hormone cortisol. ACTH tumors trigger the adrenal glands to make too much cortisol. This causes a condition called Cushing disease. Cushing disease is one cause of Cushing syndrome. ACTH ACTH Cushing disease symptoms include:  Weight gain and fatty tissue deposits around the midsection and upper back. Rounded face. Stretch marks. Thin skin that bruises easily. Thinning of the arms and legs with muscle weakness. Thicker or more visible body hair. Slow healing of cuts, insect bites and infections. Areas of darkened skin. Acne. Changes in menstrual cycles. Sexual problems, including problems with erections and less interest in sex.  Pituitary tumors that make growth hormone Pituitary tumors that make growth hormone also are called growth hormone-secreting tumors or somatotroph adenomas. Too much growth hormone leads to a condition known as acromegaly. Acromegaly can cause:  Changes in facial features, including larger lips, nose and tongue; longer lower jaw; and wide spaces between teeth. Growth of hands and feet. Thicker skin. More sweating and body odor. Joint pain. A deeper voice.  Children and teens who have too much growth hormone might also grow faster or taller than usual. This condition is called gigantism. Pituitary tumors that make luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are also known as gonadotropins. Pituitary tumors that make these hormones are called gonadotroph adenomas. It's uncommon for these adenomas to make too many hormones that then trigger symptoms. Instead, symptoms from these adenomas usually are due to tumor pressure. If symptoms do happen because of too much LH and FSH, they affect women and men differently. LH FSH Symptoms in women may include:  Change in menstrual cycles. Fertility problems. Enlargement of and pain in the ovaries caused by a condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.  Symptoms in men may include:  Enlarged testicles. Higher levels of testosterone.  Pituitary tumors that make prolactin These adenomas are called prolactinomas. Too much of the hormone prolactin can lead to a decrease in the body's levels of sex hormones — estrogen and testosterone. Too much prolactin affects men and women differently. In women, too much prolactin might cause:  Irregular menstrual cycles. Lack of menstrual cycles. Milky discharge from the breasts. Breast tenderness. Problems with fertility. Less interest in sex.  In men, too much prolactin can cause a condition called male hypogonadism. Symptoms might include:  Problems with erections. Less interest in sex. Breast growth. Problems with fertility. Less body and facial hair.  Pituitary tumors that make thyroid-stimulating hormone Pituitary tumors that make thyroid-stimulating hormone are called thyrotroph adenomas. They also may be referred to as thyroid-stimulating hormone-secreting tumors. They cause the thyroid gland to make too much of the hormone thyroxine, also called T-4. That leads to a condition called hyperthyroidism, also known as overactive thyroid disease. Hyperthyroidism can speed up the body's metabolism causing many symptoms. Some of the most common include:  Weight loss. Rapid or irregular heartbeat. Nervousness, anxiety or irritability. Frequent bowel movements. Sweating. Tremor. Sleep problems. 
pituitary tumors cause symptoms  tumors found imaging test  mri ct scan  reason  don't cause symptoms  pituitary tumors don't need treatment  mri ct pituitary tumor symptoms may caused tumor putting pressure brain parts body nearby  symptoms can caused hormone imbalance  hormone levels can rise pituitary tumor makes hormones  large tumor disrupts way pituitary gland works may cause hormone levels fall  symptoms tumor pressure macroadenomas can put pressure pituitary gland  nerves  brain parts body nearby  can cause symptoms as:  headache  eye problems due pressure optic nerve  especially loss side vision  called peripheral vision  double vision  pain face  including sinus pain ear pain  drooping eyelid  seizures  nausea vomiting   symptoms hormone changes            cushing syndrome       open pop-up dialog box          close    cushing syndrome   cushing syndrome left untreated  cushing syndrome can result exaggerated facial roundness  weight gain midsection upper back  thinning arms legs  easy bruising  stretch marks                cushing syndrome       open pop-up dialog box           cushing syndrome       open pop-up dialog box  open pop-up dialog box       close    cushing syndrome   cushing syndrome left untreated  cushing syndrome can result exaggerated facial roundness  weight gain midsection upper back  thinning arms legs  easy bruising  stretch marks           close    cushing syndrome   cushing syndrome left untreated  cushing syndrome can result exaggerated facial roundness  weight gain midsection upper back  thinning arms legs  easy bruising  stretch marks         close    cushing syndrome   cushing syndrome left untreated  cushing syndrome can result exaggerated facial roundness  weight gain midsection upper back  thinning arms legs  easy bruising  stretch marks      close    close  close cushing syndrome   cushing syndrome left untreated  cushing syndrome can result exaggerated facial roundness  weight gain midsection upper back  thinning arms legs  easy bruising  stretch marks   cushing syndrome left untreated  cushing syndrome can result exaggerated facial roundness  weight gain midsection upper back  thinning arms legs  easy bruising  stretch marks  left untreated  cushing syndrome can result exaggerated facial roundness  weight gain midsection upper back  thinning arms legs  easy bruising  stretch marks             illustration showing person acromegaly       open pop-up dialog box          close    illustration showing person acromegaly   illustration showing person acromegaly symptoms acromegaly include enlarged face hands  changes face may cause brow bone lower jawbone protrude  nose lips larger                illustration showing person acromegaly       open pop-up dialog box           illustration showing person acromegaly       open pop-up dialog box  open pop-up dialog box       close    illustration showing person acromegaly   illustration showing person acromegaly symptoms acromegaly include enlarged face hands  changes face may cause brow bone lower jawbone protrude  nose lips larger           close    illustration showing person acromegaly   illustration showing person acromegaly symptoms acromegaly include enlarged face hands  changes face may cause brow bone lower jawbone protrude  nose lips larger         close    illustration showing person acromegaly   illustration showing person acromegaly symptoms acromegaly include enlarged face hands  changes face may cause brow bone lower jawbone protrude  nose lips larger      close    close  close illustration showing person acromegaly   illustration showing person acromegaly symptoms acromegaly include enlarged face hands  changes face may cause brow bone lower jawbone protrude  nose lips larger   illustration showing person acromegaly symptoms acromegaly include enlarged face hands  changes face may cause brow bone lower jawbone protrude  nose lips larger  symptoms acromegaly include enlarged face hands  changes face may cause brow bone lower jawbone protrude  nose lips larger  low amounts hormones macroadenomas can limit pituitary gland's ability hormones  happens  symptoms may include:  tiredness weakness  lack energy  sexual problems  problems erections interest sex  changes menstrual cycles  nausea  feeling cold  losing gaining weight trying   high amounts hormones functioning pituitary adenomas typically large amount hormone  exposes body high levels hormone  rarely  pituitary adenoma may hormone  following types functioning pituitary adenomas cause symptoms depending hormones make  pituitary tumors adrenocorticotropic hormone pituitary tumors adrenocorticotropic hormone called corticotroph adenomas  adrenocorticotropic hormone  called acth  causes adrenal glands hormone cortisol  acth tumors trigger adrenal glands cortisol  causes condition called cushing disease  cushing disease cause cushing syndrome  acth acth cushing disease symptoms include:  weight gain fatty tissue deposits midsection upper back  rounded face  stretch marks  thin skin bruises easily  thinning arms legs muscle weakness  thicker visible body hair  slow healing cuts  insect bites infections  areas darkened skin  acne  changes menstrual cycles  sexual problems  including problems erections interest sex   pituitary tumors growth hormone pituitary tumors growth hormone called growth hormone-secreting tumors somatotroph adenomas  growth hormone leads condition known acromegaly  acromegaly can cause:  changes facial features  including larger lips  nose tongue; longer lower jaw; wide spaces teeth  growth hands feet  thicker skin  sweating body odor  joint pain  deeper voice   children teens who growth hormone grow faster taller usual  condition called gigantism  pituitary tumors luteinizing hormone follicle-stimulating hormone luteinizing hormone (lh) follicle-stimulating hormone (fsh) known gonadotropins  pituitary tumors hormones called gonadotroph adenomas  it's uncommon adenomas hormones trigger symptoms  instead  symptoms adenomas due tumor pressure  symptoms happen lh fsh  affect women men differently  lh fsh symptoms women may include:  change menstrual cycles  fertility problems  enlargement pain ovaries caused condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome   symptoms men may include:  enlarged testicles  higher levels testosterone   pituitary tumors prolactin adenomas called prolactinomas  hormone prolactin can lead decrease body's levels sex hormones — estrogen testosterone  prolactin affects men women differently  women  prolactin cause:  irregular menstrual cycles  lack menstrual cycles  milky discharge breasts  breast tenderness  problems fertility  interest sex   men  prolactin can cause condition called male hypogonadism  symptoms include:  problems erections  interest sex  breast growth  problems fertility  body facial hair   pituitary tumors thyroid-stimulating hormone pituitary tumors thyroid-stimulating hormone called thyrotroph adenomas  may referred thyroid-stimulating hormone-secreting tumors  cause thyroid gland hormone thyroxine  called t-4  leads condition called hyperthyroidism  known overactive thyroid disease  hyperthyroidism can speed body's metabolism causing symptoms  common include:  weight loss  rapid irregular heartbeat  nervousness  anxiety irritability  frequent bowel movements  sweating  tremor  sleep problems
pituitary tumors