How serious is a pituitary gland tumor?

Pituitary cancer is very rare. Still, the tumors can cause serious problems, either because of their size (large tumors) or because they make extra hormones your body doesn’t need (functioning tumors). They’re typically treated with surgery, medicine, or radiation.

How long can you live with a 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.

Is a pituitary tumor life threatening?

In general, when a pituitary tumor is not cured, people live out their lives but may have to deal with problems caused by the tumor or its treatment, such as vision problems or hormone levels that are too high or too low.

When should a pituitary tumor 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.

Is a pituitary tumor considered a brain tumor?

A tumor that develops in the pituitary gland is typically considered to be a type of brain cancer. The pituitary gland, which is responsible for producing and releasing hormones into the body, is located inside the skull, just beneath the brain and above the nasal passages.

What problems can a pituitary tumor cause?

These tumors produce excess growth hormone (acromegaly), which can cause:

• Coarsened facial features.
• Enlarged hands and feet.
• Excess sweating.
• High blood sugar.
• Heart problems.
• Joint pain.
• Misaligned teeth.
• Increased body hair.

How common is a tumor on the pituitary gland?

How common are pituitary adenomas? Pituitary adenomas make up 10\% to 15\% of all tumors that develop within the skull. They are found in about 77 out of 100,000 people, although it is believed that they actually occur in as many as 20\% of people at some point in their lives.

What happens after a pituitary tumor is removed?

It can take up to 6 weeks to fully recover. The cuts the doctor made (incisions) may be sore for about 5 days after surgery. You may also have numbness and shooting pains near your wound, or swelling and bruising around your eyes. As your wound starts to heal, it may start to itch.

Can you live without your pituitary gland?

The pituitary gland is called the master gland of the endocrine system. This is because it controls many other hormone glands in the body. According to The Pituitary Foundation, without it, the body wouldn’t reproduce, wouldn’t grow properly and many other bodily functions just wouldn’t function.

Do pituitary tumors go away?

A pituitary tumor will not go away without treatment. However,many pituitary tumors never cause symptoms and will go undetected throughout a person’s entire life. Additionally,certain kinds of functional pituitary tumors can be destroyed with medication only and never require surgery.

What is the recovery time from pituitary tumor removal?

For the first few weeks after surgery, you may feel tired, have a headache, or slight nasal congestion, but these symptoms should gradually improve. And within 2 weeks, you should be back to your normal daily activities, including work. Removing a pituitary tumor may cause abnormal hormone levels.

Can a pituitary tumor go away without treatment?

A pituitary tumor will not go away without treatment. However,many pituitary tumors never cause symptoms and will go undetected throughout a person’s entire life. Additionally,certain kinds of functional pituitary tumors can be destroyed with medication only and never require surgery.

How do you remove a tumor on the pituitary gland?

Transsphenoidal surgery. This is the most common way to remove pituitary tumors. Transsphenoidal means that the surgery is done through the sphenoid sinus, a hollow space in the skull behind the nasal passages and below the brain. The back wall of the sinus covers the pituitary gland.

How dangerous is a pituitary tumor?

Having said that, a tumor can cause problems by where it is located or by how large it is. For example, a benign pituitary tumor may cause problems because it is large and is pressing on the optic nerve in the brain, causing vision loss. Or a large thyroid tumor may be compressing the trachea, causing breathing problems.