Pituitary Hypertrophy

Abstract

Pituitary adenomas are the most common cause of sellar masses although there are a number of other neoplastic, infectious, inflammatory, developmental, and vascular etiologies that should be considered. Pregnancy promotes a physiological increase in the size of the maternal pituitary gland, especially adenohypophysis. The normal maturation sequence of the pituitary gland apparently involves a period of physiological hypertrophy in teenagers. As most incidentalomas in pediatric patients are not associated with hormonal hypersecretion or hypopituitarism, and structural progression is not common, it is hypothesized that the extensive follow-up assessment recommended for adults might not be necessary for children. Patients presenting with a pituitary lesion should undergo a complete history and physical examination that includes evaluations for evidence of hypopituitarism and hormone hypersecretion syndrome. Patients with evidence for either of these conditions should undergo an appropriately directed biochemical evaluation. All patients presenting with a pituitary lesion abutting the optic nerves or chiasm on magnetic resonance imaging should undergo a formal visual field examination. Emergencies in pituitary disease can result from the failure of the pituitary gland to secrete one or more pituitary hormones or from neuro-ophthalmological symptoms due to the mass effect of an expanding hypothalamic-pituitary lesion. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of endocrine emergencies are mandatory.