Pituitary adenomas
Chapter: 21
Some produce hormones (one or more), others do not. They often compress within the narrow confines of the sella turcica the rest of the pituitary, thereby causing hypofunction of the gland. Small tumors (microadenomas) become symptomatic only if they produce hormones in excess. Large tumors (macroadenomas) in addition to compressing the rest of the pituitary, extend upward from the sella and press against the optic chiasm causing first bitemporal hemianopsia, but eventually possible total blindness. Rarely they may even kill the patient via increased intracranial pressure.
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