Pituitary Disorders

Acromegaly (ac-ro-MEG-a-lee) is a rare condition in adults resulting from excessive amounts of growth hormone, most commonly caused by a benign tumour in the pituitary gland. It is one of many disorders associated with the pituitary gland and pituitary tumours.  CPPN was instrumental in establishing the first every Canadian Acromegaly Day.

In 90% of adults, growth hormone deficiency is a result of benign (non-cancerous) tumors called pituitary adenomas, commonly diagnosed in patients in their 30s or 40s. Rare causes of adult GHD include diseases such as sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, histiocytosis, and hemochromatosis (iron overload).

Crangiopharyngiomas are localized tumors and become large before they are diagnosed. Craniopharyngiomas represent 2-5% of all primary brain tumors, and 5-10% of all childhood brain tumors. This tumor tends to be found in two age groups—patients up to age 14 and patients over age 45. 

Cushing disease is a form of Cushing syndrome. Other forms of Cushing syndrome include exogenous Cushing syndrome, Cushing syndrome caused by adrenal tumor, and ectopic Cushing syndrome. Cushing disease is a condition in which the pituitary gland releases too much adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). 

Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a condition characterized by excessive thirst and excretion of large amounts of severely dilute urine, with reduction of fluid intake having no effect on the concentration of the urine.

Hypopituitarism is the decreased (hypo) secretion of one or more of the eight hormones normally produced by the pituitary gland.  The symptoms of hypopituitarism therefore depend on which hormone is deficient. The symptoms may be subtle and are often initially attributed to other causes.