Overview
A pituitary tumor is an abnormal growth that develops in the pituitary gland, a small pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain, just behind the bridge of the nose. The pituitary gland is often called the "master gland" because it produces hormones that control many other glands and body functions, including growth, metabolism, reproduction, and stress response. Most pituitary tumors are benign (not cancerous) and are called pituitary adenomas. However, even benign tumors can cause significant problems by pressing on nearby structures like the optic nerves (affecting vision) or by producing too much or too little of certain hormones. Pituitary tumors are classified by their size — microadenomas are smaller than 10 millimeters, while macroadenomas are 10 millimeters or larger. They are also classified by whether they produce excess hormones (functioning tumors) or not (non-functioning tumors). Functioning tumors can cause a wide range of symptoms depending on which hormone is overproduced, such as Cushing's disease (too much cortisol), acromegaly (too much growth hormone), or prolactinoma (too much prolactin). Treatment depends on the type, size, and hormone activity of the tumor. Options include medication (especially for prolactinomas), surgery (usually through the nose in a procedure called transsphenoidal surgery), and radiation therapy. Many patients can be effectively managed with these approaches, though long-term monitoring is usually needed. Some pituitary tumors are discovered incidentally on brain imaging done for other reasons and may only require watchful waiting.
Key symptoms:
HeadachesVision problems, especially loss of side (peripheral) visionUnexplained weight gainFatigue and low energyIrregular or absent menstrual periods in womenErectile dysfunction or decreased sex drive in menUnexplained milk production from the breasts (galactorrhea)Enlarged hands, feet, or facial features (acromegaly)Easy bruising and round face (Cushing's features)Mood changes, anxiety, or depressionInfertilityExcessive thirst and frequent urinationGrowth problems in children (too much or too little growth)NauseaFeeling cold or having low blood pressure
Sporadic
Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
Adult
Begins in adulthood (age 18 or older)
FDA & Trial Timeline
10 eventsUniversity of Sao Paulo General Hospital — PHASE3
West China Hospital — NA
Peking Union Medical College Hospital — EARLY_PHASE1
University Medical Center Groningen
Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University — NA
University of California, San Francisco
H. Lundbeck A/S — PHASE2
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center — PHASE2
The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University — NA
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Pituitary tumor.
9 clinical trialsare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.
View clinical trials →Rare Disease Specialist
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Pituitary tumor.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Pituitary tumor.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Pituitary tumor
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Application of Augmented Reality Neuronavigation in Transnasal Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Pituitary tumor
New recruiting trial: Pituitary Tumor Surveillance: Pathogenic Correlation
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Pituitary tumor
New recruiting trial: Nasal Outcomes Using Saline Irrigations After Endonasal Pituitary Surgery
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Pituitary tumor
New recruiting trial: A Study of Pasireotide in People With Prolactinoma
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Pituitary tumor
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.What type of pituitary tumor do I have, and is it producing excess hormones?,What is the size of my tumor, and is it pressing on any important structures like the optic nerves?,What are my treatment options, and what do you recommend as the first step?,Will I need hormone replacement therapy, and if so, for how long?,Should I be tested for a genetic or familial syndrome?,How often will I need follow-up MRI scans and blood tests?,What emergency symptoms should I watch for, and what should I do if they occur?
Common questions about Pituitary tumor
What is Pituitary tumor?
A pituitary tumor is an abnormal growth that develops in the pituitary gland, a small pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain, just behind the bridge of the nose. The pituitary gland is often called the "master gland" because it produces hormones that control many other glands and body functions, including growth, metabolism, reproduction, and stress response. Most pituitary tumors are benign (not cancerous) and are called pituitary adenomas. However, even benign tumors can cause significant problems by pressing on nearby structures like the optic nerves (affecting vision) or by produ
How is Pituitary tumor inherited?
Pituitary tumor follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Pituitary tumor typically begin?
Typical onset of Pituitary tumor is adult. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Are there clinical trials for Pituitary tumor?
Yes — 9 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Pituitary tumor on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Pituitary tumor?
25 specialists and care centers treating Pituitary tumor are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.