Health Topics
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/pituitarydisorders.html
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Basics
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Research
Resources
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Summary
Your pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland at the base of your brain. The pituitary is the "master control gland" - it makes hormones that affect growth and the functions of other glands in the body.
With pituitary disorders, you often have too much or too little of one of your hormones. Injuries can cause pituitary disorders, but the most common cause is a pituitary tumor.
Diagnosis and Tests
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- Brain MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Levels Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- Growth Hormone Tests (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1) Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Levels Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Acromegaly (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Empty Sella Syndrome (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Galactorrhea (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Hyperprolactinemia (Endocrine Society)
- Hypopituitarism (Endocrine Society)
- Septo-Optic Dysplasia (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Genetics
- Combined pituitary hormone deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Videos and Tutorials
- Pituitary gland (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Acromegaly (National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Pituitary Diseases (National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Reference Desk
- Endocrine System (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Children
- Your Endocrine System (For Kids) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Teenagers
- Endocrine System (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- ACTH blood test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- ACTH stimulation test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Empty sella syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) blood test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Gigantism (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Growth hormone stimulation test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Hypopituitarism (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Luteinizing hormone (LH) blood test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Pituitary apoplexy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.