How high is the prolactin level in pituitary tumors?

With the progress of the times, many diseases that did not exist or could not be discovered before have also appeared. Most of these diseases are very serious, and some are even terminal illnesses. Many of these diseases have long incubation periods and disease development periods. If they can be discovered before the disease fully breaks out, the possibility of cure is still very high, and many people have saved their lives because of this. What we are talking about today is pituitary tumor. The editor will tell you about the early symptoms of pituitary tumor so that you can learn about it.

Introduction to Pituitary Tumors

Pituitary tumors are a group of tumors that arise from the anterior and posterior pituitary and residual cells of the craniopharyngeal epithelium. About 10% of intracranial tumors have obvious clinical symptoms. Pituitary tumors are slightly more common in men than in women. They usually occur in young and middle-aged people and often affect the patient's growth, development, reproductive function, learning and work ability. The clinical manifestations include abnormal hormone secretion syndrome, tumor compression of the surrounding pituitary tissue syndrome, pituitary apoplexy and other manifestations of anterior pituitary hypofunction.

Pituitary Tumors and Prolactin

It is very common to have slightly elevated prolactin levels. Most of the time, it is not a pituitary tumor. Common causes include polycystic ovary syndrome, drug effects, pregnancy, breastfeeding, changes in sexual habits, etc. Generally no treatment is required and the disease can heal on its own. A pituitary tumor is considered only when the level is 20 times higher than the upper limit of normal.

Pituitary tumor symptoms

. Hormone secretion abnormalities

Syndromes of excessive hormone secretion, such as acromegaly caused by excessive growth hormone; and syndromes of insufficient hormone secretion. When the non-functioning tumor grows and the normal pituitary tissue is destroyed, amenorrhea occurs due to the decrease in gonadotropin secretion. Infertility or impotence often occurs first and is most common.

The symptom of neurofibromatosis caused by tumor compressing the tissues around the pituitary gland is persistent headache. Patients with optic nerve, chiasm and optic nerve bundle compression experience decreased vision, visual field defects and fundus changes; other compression syndromes. Pituitary stroke. Other manifestations of anterior pituitary hypofunction.