Hypopituitarism

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Endocrine glands The pituitary gland Pituitary hormones Pituitary and TSH

Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention

Hypopituitarism

• fatigue
• weakness
• sensitivity to cold
• decreased appetite
• weight loss
• abdominal pain
• low blood pressure
• headache
• visual disturbances
• short stature (less than 5 feet) if onset is during a growth period
• loss of armpit or pubic hair
• in women: cessation of menstrual periods, infertility, or failure to lactate
• in men: decreased sexual interest, loss of body or facial hair
• in children: slowed growth and sexual development

Note: Symptoms may develop slowly and may vary greatly depending upon the severity of the disorder and the number of deficient hormones and their target organs.

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• weight gain (unintentional)
• joint stiffness
• hoarseness or changing voice
• hair loss
• facial swelling

Diagnosis of hypopituitarism must confirm decreased hormone levels due to an abnormality of the pituitary gland and rule out disease of the target organ.

• cranial CT scan, revealing a tumor or abnormal mass in the pituitary gland
• cranial MRI, revealing a tumor or abnormal mass in the pituitary or hypothalamus
• serum luteinizing hormone (LH), decreased or normal
• serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), decreased or normal
• serum testosterone level, decreased
• serum estradiol (estrogen), decreased
• serum cortisol, decreased
• serum ACTH, decreased
• T4 (thyroid hormone), decreased
• serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), decreased or normal
• serum thyroid stimulating hormone response to thyroid-releasing hormone, decreased
• serum growth hormone (GH), decreased
• serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), decreased

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