Pituitary adenoma natural history, complications, and prognosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmad Al Maradni, M.D. [2]

Overview

Patients with pituitary adenoma may progress to develop lethargy, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Common complications of pituitary adenoma include bitemporal hemianopia , anosmia, acromegaly, gigantism and Cushing's syndrome. Prognosis is generally good, and approximately 18% of patients with macroadenoma require further treatment.

Pituitary adenomas are generally benign.
Patients with micoradenoma are usually asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally. At later stage they may show signs and symptoms of hormonal disturbances.
Patients with macroadenoma are usually present with visual field deficits and hormonal disturbances. Macroadenoma grows slowly and invades surrounding structure such as optic chiasm and olfactory tract.
Females tend to develop symptoms at an earlier stage than males due to menstrual irregularities associated with the disease.

Complications associated with pituitary adenoma generally arise from either the mass itself or from prolonged hormonal imbalance. Complications may include:^[1]^[2]^[3]

The prognosis of pituitary adenoma is generally good. However, recurrent symptoms require further intervention.