Who knew a pea-sized organ could cause so much trouble when it stops working?
When your pituitary gland acts up, it can cause all kinds of problems. This tiny but powerful gland is part of your endocrine system. It releases important hormones throughout your body that control many things, like growth, stress, reproduction and how your body makes and uses energy. It also sends signals to other glands in your body, telling them what to do. If your pituitary gland stops doing its job, your body may not work the way it should, and you could be left wondering what’s going on and what to do next.
Cleveland Clinic’s pituitary gland experts have the answers you need. Our team will find out why this important gland isn’t working. We’ll make sure you get the personalized treatment and caring support you need so you can recover as quickly as possible. We’re also at the forefront of refining minimally invasive surgical techniques, among others, to help speed up
Pituitary gland problems can trigger many different health conditions. And none of these affect people in the same way. That’s why we make sure you get a care plan tailored to your specific diagnosis, so you get the best possible treatment results. Meet our team.
Care at Cleveland Clinic is more than medical treatments. We provide an attentive, compassionate experience — from the moment you reach out to us. From listening carefully and answering your questions to delivering treatment that specifically matches your needs, we’re here for you.
When you have a pituitary disorder, it can affect different parts of your body at the same time. So, when we build your care team, we make sure you have providers in all the specialties you need. This team works together to plan your care and guide you through treatment.
Cleveland Clinic’s providers are committed to finding new, more effective ways to treat endocrine system problemslike pituitary disorders. To help you recover quickly, our researchers are leading the way in developing minimally invasive surgical techniques, as well as others. You may also be able to participate in clinical trials that give you access to the latest treatment options.
Need a quick check-in with your provider but want to avoid the hassle of travel, parking and waiting? We’ve got you covered with virtual visits. You’ll get the same great care, but from the comfort and convenience of home.
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There are many types of pituitary disorders. Your care team will confirm the type of pituitary disorder you may have. And we’ll rule out other health conditions with similar symptoms. You may also qualify for a clinical trial for certain complex cases.
These noncancerous (benign) growths can put pressure on your pituitary gland and other areas in your endocrine system. They develop after birth and can cause headaches, vision problems or produce too few or too many hormones.
These benign pituitary growths are similar to adenomas, but instead of developing later in life, you’re born with them. Most of the time, they don’t cause any problems. But if they get big enough, they might affect your vision, or you could have headaches or hormone issues.
This is when you have an overactive pituitary gland — a condition usually caused by a pituitary adenoma. It can affect growth, reproduction, blood pressure and more. Acromegaly, or excessive growth hormone, is one example of this disorder.
Bleeding (hemorrhage) in your pituitary gland can trigger sudden headaches, double or blurred vision and drooping eyelids. This is a serious condition requiring emergency treatment.
This is a rare condition that happens when your pituitary gland makes too little or none of the hormones your body needs.
This condition results when a benign tumor (pituitary adenoma) releases too much ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), which stimulates your adrenal glands to release too much of the hormone cortisol. You’ll need special treatment to balance your hormones.
These benign pituitary tumors make extra prolactin hormone. This can lead to things like irregular periods, milky nipple discharge and even infertility. They’re often treatable with medication. In rare cases, your provider may recommend surgery or radiation therapy.
These rare, benign tumors are slow-growing and can affect your vision and endocrine system. Craniopharyngiomas are serious, and the main treatments are surgery and radiation therapy. They may also require lifelong medical care.
Before you have tests to confirm a diagnosis, your provider will take time to get to know you. They’ll ask a lot of questions, like:
During your visit, your provider will do a physical exam, and they’ll order hormone tests to pinpoint what’s going on.
These blood tests measure the levels of different hormones in your body. Our expert endocrinologists can then accurately diagnose pituitary tumors, other hormonal imbalances or related health conditions.
We also do detailed pituitary function testing that precisely diagnoses pituitary tumors and neuroendocrine disorders. These tests also check for specific pituitary deficiencies, which gives our team a clear understanding of your condition.
Other tests you may have include:
Your pituitary gland controls many different things in your body. And when something’s wrong, you may need a team of providers from different specialties to make sure you get the best care for your needs. Your team may include:
These experts work together with other providers to confirm a diagnosis and build a highly individualized treatment plan.
Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations in Ohio and Florida.
The type of treatment we recommend depends on your diagnosis. Not all conditions need treatment right away. We may choose to do watchful waiting to see whether your condition stays the same or gets worse. If it does, we can start treatment right away. You may have:
We may prescribe medications to restore hormone imbalances to normal levels (hormone replacement therapy). We may also have you take medications to shrink certain types of tumors, such as prolactinomas, or control the excess hormones that the tumor is producing.
For pituitary adenomas and cysts, we may remove all or part of the growth in surgery. Often, we can do a minimally invasive procedure through your nose and sinuses. This revolutionary neurosurgical technique is known as expanded endonasal approach (EEA). It can reduce your recovery time compared to traditional open surgery. Your care team will craft the best surgery plan for your unique needs.
We may also use a sophisticated type of radiation therapy called stereotactic radiosurgery. In this surgery, we aim high-energy X-rays directly at pituitary adenomas or tumors to stop them from growing.
Many pituitary disorders may need care for life. You might need regular hormone therapy, checkups and tests to manage your condition. We’ll keep a close eye on you to make sure things don’t progress. And if they do, our team can start treatment right away.
Hearing there’s something wrong with a small gland in your brain that plays so many important roles in your body can be unsettling, to say the least. But there’s good news. Pituitary disorders are treatable. And Cleveland Clinic is here to help. Our renowned team of providers will uncover the reason for your symptoms and plan treatment based on your needs. And you can count on us to stay by your side with compassionate care every step of the way.
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