Clinical Effects of Large and Small Pituitary Tumours

Local complications - Headache, Visual field defect, Disconnection hyperprolactinaemia, Diplopia (cavernous sinus involvement), Acute infarction/expansion (pituitary apoplexy)

Hormone excess

 • Hyperprolactinaemia - Galactorrhoea, Amenorrhoea, Hypogonadism

 • Acromegaly - Headache, Sweating, Change in shoe and ring size

 • Cushing's disease - Weight gain, Bruising, Myopathy, Hypertension, Striae, Depression

Hypopituitarism

 • Growth hormone - Lethargy

 • Gonadotrophins - Lethargy, Loss of libido, Hair loss, Amenorrhoea

 • ACTH - Lethargy, Postural hypotension, Pallor, Hair loss

 • TSH - Lethargy

 • Vasopressin (ADH)  (usually post-surgical) - Thirst and polyuria



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