Hyperpituitarism

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Hyperpituitarism is the result of excess secretion of adenohypophyseal trophic hormones most commonly by a functional pituitary adenoma. Other causes are hyperplasias and carcinomas of the adenohypophysis, secretion by non-pituitary tumours and certain hypothalamic disorders.

Depending on the cell type(s) affected, clinical manifestations of hormone excess may include:

• Hyperprolactinaemia
• Cushing's disease
• Precocious puberty
• Gigantism or Acromegaly
• Hyperthyroidism (rare)

When there is an enlargement of the pituitary tissue, hyperpituitarism is often associated with:

• Visual field defects, classically bitemporal hemianopia
• Radiographic abnormalities of the sella turcica, such as sellar expansion, bony erosion and disuption of the diaphragma sellae
• Increased intracranial pressure

Symptoms caused by hormone excess and associated mass effects include:

• Headache
• Visual field loss or Double Vision
• Excessive sweating
• Hoarseness
• Milk secretion from breast
• Sleep Apnea
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Joint pain and limitation of motion
• Muscle weakness
• Numbness or tingling of skin