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A cyst of the pituitary gland of the brain: treatment and implications

A cyst of the pituitary gland is a neoplasm with a dense shell and a liquid content.

To begin with, define what is the pituitary gland, and what functions it performs. The pituitary gland is considered an important Department in the region of the brain. In this structure produces many hormones, among which should highlight the thyrotropic, somatotropic, and luteinizing and follicle-stimulating. They help to regulate the activity of the endocrine glands, and metabolism.

As a rule, the tumor in this part of the brain manifests itself most often in young people, and more often in women than men.

The prevalence of the disease at this stage time is not studied, because most of the tumors are in no way revealed and manifested, therefore, statistically there is no data, what percentage of the population susceptible to this cystic formation. Interestingly, in the relation of the brain to learn about blindness. The reason for this phenomena is the anatomic proximity of the pituitary gland and optic nerves directly to the brain.

The causes of the violation of hormonal function is extremely diverse. Hormones this Central secretory glands responsible for influencing all organs and systems. In the case of surveillance of the cyst of the pituitary gland there is often a decline in the production of so-called active substances.

In fact the disease, patients may experience the following diseases:

  • infertility;
  • hypothyroidism;
  • impotence in men;
  • violations in the genital area;
  • diabetes insipidus;
  • insufficiency of the adrenal cortex.

Symptomatic complaints represented by the following manifestations:

  1. low blood pressure;
  2. continuous thirst;
  3. rare pulse;
  4. decreased sex drive;
  5. reduced background mood;
  6. drowsiness;
  7. dry skin;
  8. fatigue;
  9. frequent urination.

All the symptoms of the disease are observed individually. Some patients only have a specific complaint, while others treat all of these. The same can be said of other cystic formations in the body, for example, Upon detection of patient education directly in the projection of the pituitary gland, you must also assign further treatment under the supervision of an endocrinologist.

The doctor usually prescribes blood and urine, in some cases there is need of an ultrasound of the endocrine glands with the relevant functional tests.

In practice, the blood often pass on

  1. adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH);
  2. cortisol;
  3. luteinizing hormone (LH);
  4. prolactin;
  5. growth hormone(STG);
  6. testosterone;
  7. thyroid hormones;
  8. thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH);
  9. follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH);
  10. estrogen.

In the analysis of urine determine:

  • the volume of urine;
  • density;
  • daily volume;
  • color.

The details of treatment

The process of treatment of detected lesions in similar areas of the brain necessary only for specific parts of the patients. In most cases, doctors recommend the passage of only the observations.

Treatment cysts required:

  • in case of damage to neighboring structures in the area of the brain;
  • in the case of pronounced symptoms of the disease;
  • in the case of high hormonal activity cyst in the pituitary gland.

Doctors decide the appropriate type of surgical approach (craniotomy or transnasally way). Operation takes less than thirty minutes and is performed only under General anesthesia. Surgical intervention in the treatment of cysts is not uncommon, it is used and the operation can be damaged vessels responsible for blood supply to the brain close to the optic nerves.

Radiation therapy in cases of cysts of the pituitary is fairly rare. It is proved that the real effectiveness of the intervention is relatively low, whereas complications as deterioration of hormonal background will develop in almost every patient.

It is worth noting that drug treatment of this disease, if necessary, is assigned only to an endocrinologist. The most commonly used drugs such as cabergoline, bromocriptine, vasopressin, and thyroxine and testosterone.