Are Pituitary tumors common in children?
Are Pituitary tumors common in children?
Conclusion. Pituitary neoplasms are rare in children and adolescents, with craniopharyngiomas being 10–20 times more frequent than adenomas. The most common presentation is with symptoms of headache and visual disturbance, although signs of growth failure and disturbances of pubertal development are frequently present.
Is Macroprolactinoma serious?
Although prolactinoma isn’t life-threatening, it can cause vision difficulties, infertility and other problems. Prolactinoma is the most common type of hormone-producing tumor that can develop in your pituitary gland.
Are pituitary tumors hereditary?
Family history. Most people who develop pituitary tumors don’t have a family history of the disease. But rarely, pituitary tumors can run in families. Sometimes when pituitary tumors run in families, they are found along with other types of tumors as part of an inherited genetic syndrome (see the next section).
Are Prolactinomas common?
How common are prolactinomas? Small, benign pituitary tumors are fairly common in the general population. A prolactinoma is the most common type of pituitary tumor, making up about 40 percent of all pituitary tumors.
Are Prolactinomas cancerous?
Prolactin affects the mammary glands and helps women make breast milk. Sometimes, a tumor grows on the pituitary gland and makes too much prolactin. This kind of tumor is called a prolactinoma. It’s the most common type of pituitary tumor and is most often benign, which means it’s not cancer.
What are the symptoms of prolactinoma in children?
Symptoms of prolactinoma vary with the age and gender of the child, and with the size of the tumor. Symptoms may include: Delayed puberty in both boys and girls. Irregular or no menstrual periods in girls. Hypogonadism (decreased production of sex hormones)
What is the prognosis of prolactinomas?
Most people with prolactinomas are able to control prolactin levels with dopamine agonists and eliminate the negative effects of the tumors. Most children and adolescents with the condition grow into adults with normal sexual functions, including, for women, the ability to have a healthy pregnancy.
What does prolactinoma mean in medical terms?
Overview. A prolactinoma is a type of tumor that develops in the pituitary gland at the base of your brain. Prolactinoma is a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland. This tumor causes the pituitary to make too much of a hormone called prolactin.
Can prolactinomas lead to broken bones?
The excess production of prolactin caused by prolactinomas can also lead to loss of bone density, though this does not typically lead to more frequent broken bones in children and adolescents. The doctor’s first steps will be to conduct a physical exam and obtain a complete medical history.
