In rare cases, a sudden severe headache may be a sign ofpituitary apoplexy, a potentially life-threatening condition in which a blood vessel servicing the pituitary gland is either blocked or spontaneously ruptures.
This article describes why pituitary tumors cause headaches. It also explains what is involved in the diagnosis and treatment of pituitary tumors, including medical emergencies like pituitary apoplexy.
What Is the Pituitary Gland?Thepituitary glandis a hormone-producing organ situated at thebase of the brain, behind the bridge of your nose. The pituitary is tasked with producing a variety of hormones vital to human function, includingthyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH),luteinizing hormone (LH), growth hormone (GH), prolactin, andfollicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
What Is the Pituitary Gland?
Thepituitary glandis a hormone-producing organ situated at thebase of the brain, behind the bridge of your nose. The pituitary is tasked with producing a variety of hormones vital to human function, includingthyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH),luteinizing hormone (LH), growth hormone (GH), prolactin, andfollicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
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Pituitary Tumor Growth Symptoms
Given the location of the pituitary gland, it’s not surprising that headache are common in people with pituitary tumors. As a mass grows on this pea-sized gland, it compressions the structures around it, leading to head pain.
Symptoms and when they occur can vary depending on the type of pituitary tumor.
There are a variety of secreting tumors that release excessive amounts of different types of hormones, each of which can influence the symptoms someone experiences.
A non-secreting pituitary tumor may not cause symptoms until it starts to grow and compresses structures within the brain, which can take years.
Headaches and Pituitary Tumor Apoplexy
Pituitary apoplexy is when there is either a hemorrhage of the pituitary gland or the blockage of a blood vessel (infarction) servicing the pituitary gland.
In most cases, a pituitary tumor is involved. When this happens, the growing tumor can compress a blood vessel, cutting off its blood supply and causing tissues to die. In rare instances, this can lead to anischemic stroke.
The compression may also cause the blood vessel to burst, leading in rare instances to ahemorrhagic stroke.
Symptoms of pituitary tumor apoplexy include:
If not treated immediately, pituitary apoplexy can cause permanent vision loss, seizures, and death.
Certain people are at higher risk of pituitary apoplexy, including those with uncontrolled high blood pressure, a history of heart attacks or stroke, or prior radiation treatment for head, neck, or throat cancer.
Pregnancy can also increase the risk in people with a pituitary tumor.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Pituitary tumors are typically diagnosed with amagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)scan of the brain. This uses powerful magnetic and radio waves to visualize soft tissues of the brain.Computed tomography (CT), which creates multiple X-ray images, may be useful if there has been a hemorrhage or infarction.
To identify the exact type of pituitary tumor involved, abiopsywould be performed to obtain a tissue sample.
Surgery is the most common treatment for a pituitary tumor. If the pituitary tumor is benign and in a part of the brain where the surgeon can safely operate, surgery may be the only treatment needed.
With pituitary apoplexy, emergency treatment is needed. Surgery may help relieve pressure on the brain and improve vision symptoms. Intravenous fluids and steroids can help normalize blood pressure and relieve brain inflammation.
Long-term follow-up is needed for people with pituitary tumor apoplexy. This includes repeat MRI imaging and regular hormone blood tests.
Summary
1 SourceVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hannoush ZC, Weiss RE.Pituitary Apoplexy. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Boyce A, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.
1 Source
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hannoush ZC, Weiss RE.Pituitary Apoplexy. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Boyce A, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Hannoush ZC, Weiss RE.Pituitary Apoplexy. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Boyce A, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.
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