Is a tumor on the pituitary gland serious?

Is a tumor on the pituitary gland serious?

Most pituitary tumors are not cancerous (benign). They don’t spread to other parts of your body. But they can cause the pituitary to make too few or too many hormones, causing problems in the body. Pituitary tumors that make too many hormones will cause other glands to make more hormones.

What is the survival rate for pituitary tumor?

The 5-year survival rate tells you what percent of people live at least 5 years after the tumor is found. Percent means how many out of 100. The 5-year survival rate for people with a pituitary gland tumor is 97%. Survival rates depend on the type of tumor, the person’s age, and other factors.

What size pituitary tumor is considered large?

Large pituitary tumors — those measuring about 1 centimeter (slightly less than a half-inch) or larger — are known as macroadenomas. Smaller tumors are called microadenomas. Because of the size of macroadenomas, they can put pressure on the normal pituitary gland and nearby structures.

Is a pituitary tumor considered a brain tumor?

“Pituitary tumours arise from the pituitary gland that lies on the floor on the inside of the skull, underneath and separate from the brain, back behind the eyes. These are not brain tumours, and the pituitary is not part of the brain itself.

Should I worry about pituitary tumor?

Even when a pituitary tumor never comes back, people still worry about it. For years after treatment ends, you will see your doctor. Be sure to go to all of these follow-up visits. You will have exams, blood tests, and maybe other tests to see if the tumor has come back.

Do all pituitary tumors need to be removed?

Surgical removal of a pituitary tumor usually is necessary if the tumor is pressing on the optic nerves or if the tumor is overproducing certain hormones. The success of surgery depends on the tumor type, its location, its size and whether the tumor has invaded surrounding tissues.

What are pituitary tumors that don’t make hormones called?

The signs and symptoms of pituitary tumors that don’t make hormones (nonfunctioning) are related to their growth and the pressure they put on other structures. Large pituitary tumors — those measuring about 1 centimeter (slightly less than a half-inch) or larger — are known as macroadenomas.

What is a large tumor on the pituitary?

Large tumors (macroadenomas) and pituitary carcinomas. Pituitary macroadenomas (benign tumors larger than 1 cm) and carcinomas (cancers), whether functional or not, can be large enough to press on nearby nerves or parts of the brain.

What are macroadenomas and pituitary carcinomas?

Macroadenomas and pituitary carcinomas can also press on and destroy the normal parts of the pituitary gland. This causes a shortage of one or more pituitary hormones.

Can pituitary tumors spread to the brain?

These tumors are called benign because they don’t spread to other parts of the body, like cancers can. Still, even benign pituitary tumors can cause major health problems because they are close to the brain, may invade nearby tissues (like the skull or the sinuses), and because many of them make excess hormones.