What symptoms accompany the pituitary microadenoma? Causes and treatment of the disease

Quite often during the examination, doctors detect the patient's pituitary microadenoma. This benign small tumor, the size of which does not exceed 10 millimeters. Nevertheless, it can be dangerous, as it is often prone to rapid growth. So why there is an adenoma and what complications can cause a similar pathology?

What is the dangerous tumor of the pituitary gland?

It's no secret that the pituitary gland is one of the most important glands of internal secretion, forming a hypothalamic-pituitary system. It is here, in the brain, the production of hormones that control the work of the entire endocrine system and, accordingly, affect the state of the body.

In particular, the pituitary gland secretes hormones that regulate the functioning of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, mammary glands, and the reproductive system. In addition, there is formed somatotropin - a substance responsible for the growth processes in the body.

It is worth noting that more than half of the pituitary tumors affect the secretion of hormonal substances. That is why it is so important to detect the microadenoma of the pituitary gland, because its growth can provoke severe hormonal failures. In addition, increasing the size of the tumor leads to squeezing the adjacent parts of the brain, which also affects the body.

The causes of microadenoma formation

This question is still being investigated, and it is not always possible to find out the cause of the appearance of the tumor. Nevertheless, it is proved that there is a genetic predisposition here. In addition, statistical data indicate that the pituitary microadenoma is most often found in women. The fact is that there is a mutual connection between the hypothalamic-pituitary system and other glands. Violation of the secretion of sex hormones, which occurs during pregnancy, breastfeeding, after abortion and as a result of the use of hormonal contraception, may well affect the functioning and structure of the pituitary gland. Risk factors are also attributed to head injuries and inflammatory diseases of the brain.

The main symptoms of the pituitary microadenoma

In fact, such neoplasms rarely manifest themselves as any symptoms. Quite often they are discovered quite accidentally, for example, during an MRI. Microadenoma of the pituitary gland does not exert pressure on neighboring parts of the brain due to small dimensions, therefore such characteristic signs as headaches and visual impairment are absent.

On the other hand, secreting tumors affect the work of the whole organism. For example, the formation of prolactinoma leads to disruption of the menstrual cycle, the cessation of egg ripening, the appearance of breast milk, and in men and impotence. Somatotropinoma provokes the development of acromegaly. Patients who have found a pituitary microadenoma secreting corticotropins suffer from Cushing's syndrome.

Microadenoma of the pituitary: how to treat?

Immediately it is worth noting that, first of all, it is necessary to undergo a series of studies that will confirm that the tumor is really benign, and will make it clear whether it affects the synthesis of hormones. Only the doctor can decide which therapy the pituitary microadenoma will yield. The operation is performed only in cases where the tumor affects the growth of the body or enhances the secretion of corticotropins. Prolactinoma is almost always amenable to drug treatment with hormones. If the microadenoma does not grow and does not affect the hormonal background, then, probably, a specific treatment will not be needed - you only need to be observed regularly at the doctor.