The most important gland in the endocrine system is the pituitary gland. This small organ, located in the posterior lower part of the brain, controls the production of all vital hormones, as well as their concentration in the blood. Therefore, pituitary diseases are considered the main cause of various endocrine pathologies, violations of reproductive functions in women, sexual desire.
Symptoms of pituitary diseases
Several diseases are known, including benign neoplasms, of the organ described, each of which is accompanied by characteristic clinical manifestations. But there are also general specific signs of pituitary diseases, according to which it is possible to judge beforehand the presence of problems:
- prolonged absence or delay of menstruation;
- painful sensations, roughness, swelling of the mammary glands;
- impairment (deterioration of acuity) of vision;
- pathology of the kidneys and adrenal glands;
- dryness of the vagina, which is accompanied by pain during sexual acts;
- galactorrhea ;
- hearing disorders;
- strong and regular, or permanent, headaches;
- dysmenorrhea;
- increased thirst;
- endocrine infertility;
- mastopathy;
- excess urinary excretion per day (diabetes insipidus);
- malfunction of the respiratory and cardiovascular system.
Serious disturbances in the functioning of the pituitary gland cause the development of such severe pathologies as gigantism, dwarfism, acromegaly, hypo- and hyperthyroidism .
Treatment of pituitary diseases
In the presence of a benign and hormonal active tumor (adenoma) of the pituitary gland, as a rule, an operation is performed to remove it.
In other cases, a long and sometimes lifelong course of hormone replacement therapy is prescribed, which allows either to stimulate the endocrine gland or to suppress it. Particularly difficult situations additionally involve radiation and chemotherapy.