Illness Information for Pituitary tumour
Pituitary tumour
Cells within the brain normally grow in an orderly and controlled way, but if for some reason this order is disrupted, the cells continue to divide and form a lump or tumour.
Tumours may be benign, where the cells do not spread from the original site, or malignant (cancerous), where the cells invade and destroy surrounding tissue and may spread to other parts of the brain.
Almost all tumours of the pituitary gland are benign (non-cancerous) and do not spread. They are sometimes called adenomas.
Pituitary tumours are either secreting (producing hormones) or non-secreting tumours (not producing hormones). Secreting tumours release excess amounts of any of the pituitary hormones and are named after the hormone that is being over-produced, e.g. prolactin-secreting tumour.
Tumours may be benign, where the cells do not spread from the original site, or malignant (cancerous), where the cells invade and destroy surrounding tissue and may spread to other parts of the brain.
Almost all tumours of the pituitary gland are benign (non-cancerous) and do not spread. They are sometimes called adenomas.
Pituitary tumours are either secreting (producing hormones) or non-secreting tumours (not producing hormones). Secreting tumours release excess amounts of any of the pituitary hormones and are named after the hormone that is being over-produced, e.g. prolactin-secreting tumour.
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