Pituitary Adenomas Research Paper

Pituitary adenomas are a type of tumor that grows from the cells of the pituitary gland, with most tumors developing in the anterior part of the pituitary (Asa and Ezzat, 2002). Although quite common in the general population, pituitary adenomas are usually benign and slow-growing (Melmed, 2011). They can be classified by size and whether or not they secrete excess hormones. Adenomas less than 1cm are classified as microadenomas, and usually don’t present symptoms unless they secrete excess hormones. Macroadenomas are larger than 1cm and can cause issues by compressing parts of the pituitary or the structures around it. Pituitary adenomas that secrete excess hormones are classified as functional adenomas, and can lead to pathologies such as