Science Series

2006

Pituitary Disorders

Understanding These Disorders and Planning for Future Research

OCTOBER 2004 NIH Scientific Workshop Focuses the Discussion

What is the 

Pituitary Gland?

What Happens When 

the Pituitary Gland 

Malfunctions?

Why Are Pituitary 

Disorders a Problem?

What Causes Pituitary 

Malfunction?

How Can Pituitary 

Disorders Be Treated?

What Is NIH 

Doing About 

Pituitary Disorders?

What Is the Pituitary Gland?

The pituitary is a bean-shaped gland attached to the 

base of the brain by a thin stalk. Essential for growth, 

the pituitary functions as the “master gland.” It receives 

inputs from the brain and the rest of the body, integrates 

that information, and then responds by producing 

hormones that regulate other glands and bodily 

functions. The pituitary sends signals to the thyroid 

gland, adrenal glands, and ovaries or testes, directing 

them to produce thyroid hormone, cortisol, estrogen, 

testosterone, and many other hormones. These 

hormones have dramatic effects on metabolism, blood 

pressure, sexuality, reproduction, and other vital bodily 

functions. In addition, the pituitary gland produces 

growth hormone for normal development of height and 

prolactin for milk production.

What Happens When the Pituitary 

Gland Malfunctions?

Tumors (primarily benign), inflammation, infections, 

and injury can cause the pituitary gland to malfunction. 

Rarely, spread of other tumors to the pituitary can also 

cause malfunction. In some cases, radiation therapy 

As the master gland, 

the pituitary is essential 

for growth and overall 

hormonal regulation.

to the brain can cause normal pituitary cells 

to malfunction. Pituitary malfunctions result 

in headaches, compression of the optic nerve 

with loss of peripheral vision, and a variety of 

hormonal effects on the heart, the gut, muscle, 

bone, and other parts of the body.

Pituitary disorders stunt growth in children and 

shorten the lives of all affected individuals by 

causing health complications, such as mood 

disorders, sexual dysfunction or infertility, diabetes, 

osteoporosis, arthritis, and accelerated heart 

disease. Certain pituitary tumors cause Cushing’s 

disease, where too many hormones, called 

glucocorticoids, are released into the bloodstream. 

This causes fat to build up in the face, back, and 

chest, and the arms and legs to become thin. Other 

symptoms include too much sugar in the blood, weak 

muscles and bones, a flushed face, and high blood 

pressure. Other pituitary tumors cause a condition 

called acromegaly, in which the hands, feet, and face 

are larger than normal; in very young people, the whole 

body may grow much larger than normal. Another type 

of pituitary tumor causes the breasts to make milk, even 

though a woman may not be pregnant, and her menstrual 

periods may stop. Empty sella syndrome (ESS) involves 

the sella turcica, a bony structure at the base of the brain 

that surrounds and protects the pituitary gland. In children, 

ESS may be associated with early onset of puberty, growth 

hormone deficiency, pituitary tumors, or pituitary gland 

dysfunction. Pituitary malfunction causes other disorders 

as well.
NIH Publication No. 06–6068

Why Are Pituitary Disorders a 

Problem?

The most common cause of pituitary gland malfunction 

is tumors, generally benign. Such tumors occur in nearly 

20 percent of adults worldwide. Unfortunately, many go 

undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years. This is largely due to 

the nonspecific features of the disease, which often mimic 

symptoms of other conditions, and a lack of awareness in both 

the medical community and the public. 

Every year thousands of new patients are diagnosed with 

pituitary tumors in the United States; most pituitary tumors 

are adenomas, and few pituitary tumors are fatal. However, 

the number of pituitary tumors diagnosed is much lower than 

their actual number. Most of these pituitary tumors are benign 

and, therefore, are not included in statistics collected by 

cancer registries. Almost all individuals with these tumors will 

not experience any symptoms or impairment of their health. If 

symptoms are present, a doctor may order laboratory tests to 

determine hormone levels in the blood. The doctor may also 

order an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan, which uses 

magnetic waves to make a picture of the inside of the brain. 

Other special x-rays may also be done.

What Causes Pituitary Malfunction?

Scientists do not know exactly what causes most pituitary 

tumors. During the past few years, a great deal of progress has 

been made in understanding how certain changes in a person’s 

DNA can cause cells in the pituitary to produce a tumor. About 

3 percent of all pituitary tumors are caused by a condition that 

is inherited; these pituitary tumors usually occur in adults, and 

genetic testing of family members is available.

How Can Pituitary Disorders Be 

Treated?

Treating pituitary disorders depends on the type of tumor, how 

far it has invaded into the brain, as well as the patient’s age 

and overall health. Three kinds of treatment are used: Surgery 

to remove the tumor, radiation therapy using high-dose x-rays 

or proton beams to kill tumor cells, and drug therapy to shrink 

and sometimes eradicate the tumor. Medical management of 

the health and emotional problems that result from pituitary 

disorders is also very important. Most patients recognize the 

need for a life-long regimen of care to ensure they maintain a 

normal quality and length of life.

What Is NIH Doing About Pituitary 

Disorders?

The information presented here is a synopsis of a scientific 

National Institutes of Health (NIH) workshop, Family Hormonal 

Health, held in October 2004. The Office of Research on 

Women’s Health, in collaboration with other NIH Institutes and 

Centers, and the Pituitary Network Association, convened an 

internationally recognized group of experts and a select group 

of patients to increase awareness and scientific understanding 

of the all-encompassing nature of pituitary disorders in order 

to improve earlier diagnosis and recognition, disseminate 

knowledge of state-of-the-art treatments, and arouse interest in 

novel scientific studies of the pathophysiology of these disorders 

and their many ramifications. A videocast of this meeting is 

available at http://orwh.od.nih.gov/news/pastmeetings.html.

For More Information...

...Visit the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health Web site at 

http://orwh.od.nih.gov 

or by telephone at 301-402-1770.

Moving Forward

Future research is needed to identify the cause of pituitary tumors so that improved and targeted therapies, with fewer complications, can be developed. While advances will continue to be made in perfecting treatments, the experts at the workshop identified 

the most significant research needs:

1. Develop methods for screening and earlier diagnosis of pituitary disorders. 

2. Explore the psychosocial consequences of pituitary disorders in the patient and his or her family. 

3. Determine the nature of pituitary dysfunctions associated with psychiatric disorders.

Additional Information about Pituitary Disorders 

• The primary NIH Institute for research on pituitary disorders is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 

http://www.ninds.nih.gov. 

• Other NIH Institutes conducting research on pituitary and associated disorders include the National Institute of Child Health 

and Human Development, http://www.nichd.nih.gov, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 

http://www.niddk.nih.gov, and the National Institute of Mental Health, www.nimh.nih.gov.

• The Pituitary Network Association can be accessed at http://www.pituitary.org.

Science Series

2006