No although the tumor may be in the area of the pituitary. A craniopharyngioma arises from abnormal development of the pituitary gland during fetal (in the womb) development. It may be located within the pituitary gland or above the pituitary gland. This is a tumor that one is born with and may enlarge at any time even in people over 60 years of age. It is not a cancer although some tumors can grow quickly and may return after surgery.

A pituitary tumor is an abnormal growth of pituitary cells. Pituitary tumors can either be nonfunctional (that is they do not secrete hormones) or produce specific hormones, such as prolactin (causing infertility, decreased libido, and osteoporosis), growth hormone (causing acromegaly), ACTH (causing Cushing's), TSH (causing hypothyroidism), or be nonfunctional (that is they do not produce hormones).

This depends on the type of tumor and the size of the tumor. A large tumor may cause loss of vision, particularly peripheral vision, if it compresses the optic chiasm (where the optic [eye] nerves converge). Headache may also occur; the type of headache varies from patient to patient. Headache may occur with a large or a small tumor.

The pituitary gland is NOT in the brain and pituitary tissue is different from brain tissue. Since the pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain and is connected to the brain by a thin stalk, there is often confusion, particularly by insurance companies, about the classification of a pituitary tumor. A pituitary tumor is NOT a brain tumor.

Prolactin-producing tumors are most successfully treated with medical therapy (pills). In over 90% of patients, medical therapy reduces tumor size and blood prolactin levels. In approximately 8-10% of patients, medical treatment is not completely effective and surgery may be necessary.

Pituitary tumors are common. In autopsy studies of patients who did not have known pituitary disease, as many as 26% had a small tumor (adenoma) in the gland. Molecular biology studies have shown that a change in the DNA of pituitary cells can cause unregulated growth of a particular cell type resulting in a pituitary tumor, called an adenoma. There are no known environmental causes. Very uncommonly, pituitary tumors may be inherited.

No, in over 99% of patients, this is NOT a cancer; it is benign. Although the tumor is benign, it can cause problems because of its size, because it causes the normal pituitary gland to become underactive (hypopituitarism) or because of excessive hormone production by the tumor.

I first had cushings about 15 years ago lately I have been having symptoms of irritability, deep stretch marks in the bends of my elbows and bone fatigue. I have just lost 75 lbs and have become diabetic, also I have high cholesterol for the first time.

In general, no. There are no specific medical treatments for this type of tumor. The best treatment is surgery to remove the tumor. Bromocriptine has been used in a few patients who could not have surgery. In this situation, a small minority of patients have had some improvement in vision because of slight reduction in tumor size and relief of pressure on the optic chiasm (eye nerves responsible for vision).

The tumor causes the gland to produce too much growth hormone. This, in turn, stimulates the liver to produce too much IGF-1, which causes the excess tissue growth.

The pituitary is a small, pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain that functions as "The Master Gland." From its lofty position above the rest of the body it sends signals to the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, ovaries and testes, directing them to produce thyroid hormone, cortisol, estrogen, testosterone, and many more. These hormones have dramatic effects on metabolism, blood pressure, sexuality, reproduction, and other vital body functions.

Craniopharyngiomas are intracranial tumors that are typically both cystic and solid in structure. They occur most commonly in childhood and adolescence and in later adult life after age 50 years. They account for 2-4% of primary brain tumors, 10-15% of sellar and suprasellar tumors (tumors that occur in and above the pituitary fossa) and 50-60% of sellar and suprasellar tumors in children.

The symptoms produced by a craniopharyngioma vary depending upon the tumor's location. If it compresses the pituitary stalk or involves the area of the pituitary gland itself, the tumor can cause partial or complete pituitary hormone deficiency. This frequently results in one or more of the following: growth failure, delayed puberty, loss of normal menstrual function or sexual desire, increased sensitivity to cold, fatigue, constipation, dry skin, nausea, low blood pressure, and depression.

Spinal tumors are uncommon. They are divided into several groups according to their source and their location. Metastatic tumors: These are tumors that have spread from somewhere else in the body. Lung cancers, gastrointestinal tumors, breast tumors, kidney tumors, myelomas and other cancers can spread to the spine. These usually affect the vertebral bones. If the diagnosis is known, the treatments are usually non-surgical. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments are most commonly used.

The meaning of the word tumor is a "lump" or a "swelling", and in medical language it is used to indicate an abnormal, uncontrolled growth in any part of the body. You may think of it as a group of cells which rapidly divide and do not recognize any rule or limit. The brain tumors are similar to the tumors of other organs. However, since the brain is the center of many critical functions, tumors arising in this organ have serious outcomes.

Tumors are abnormal masses of tissue that form when cells begin to reproduce at an increased rate. The liver can grow both non-cancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) tumors.

A pituitary tumor is a tumor that begins in the pituitary gland. Most pituitary tumors are not cancer. In fact, cancerous pituitary tumors are so rare that state and national cancer agencies keep no record of how many people get them each year. Benign (non-cancerous) pituitary tumors are also rare. About 3,000 people get them each year.

The pituitary gland is a small gland located behind the nasal sinuses and above the roof of the mouth at the base of the skull. It is connected to the hypothalamus, a part of the brain. Together, the two control the production of many of the important hormones in the body. The pituitary gland sits in a tight bony space and has little room to grow or expand when swollen or if there is a tumor.

CDI itself does not interfere with menstruation or fertility. However, it may be associated with these or other problems if the disease or injury that caused the DI also damages adjacent parts of the brain or pituitary where other hormones are normally produced. Head trauma is one of the things that can cause this kind of collateral damage, but it does not always do so. Therefore, each patient with CDI must be evaluated separately to determine if any of the other hormones have been affected.

The initial treatment for a craniopharyngioma is usually surgery. The goal of surgery is to completely remove the tumor while improving or at least preserving pituitary, visual and brain function. Depending upon the location of the tumor, several approaches may be utilized. If the tumor is predominantly above the pituitary fossa (suprasellar), a craniotomy is generally required for optimal exposure and tumor removal.

The doctor does a complete physical exam with special attention to neurological examination. This includes checks for alertness, muscle strength, coordination, reflexes and response to pain. The doctor also examines the eyes for swelling caused by a tumor pressing on the nerve that connects the eye and the brain. The doctor may request a CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of the brain. The pictures are created by a computer linked to an X-ray machine.