Magic Conference: Understanding your Pituitary Gland in Health and Disease

MEETING NOTES : Dr. Frohman

Meeting Created: July 20, 2012 9:00 AM

Chicago

Understanding your Pituitary Gland in Health and Disease

Dr. Frohman will present an overview of the pituitary gland. He will cover general aspects of
pituitary function and testing and also review the types of pituitary disease that occur,
including pituitary tumors and Sheehan’s Syndrome. Many people ask and wonder if Growth
Hormone Deficiency can be inherited. Dr. Frohman will also briefly address that concern. 

Pituitary

Sheep studies, pulses pulsatile

GH secretion at night, varies with age.  Most in teens then downhill, follows diurnal rhythm

High igf= cancer?

Hypothalamus

Chris

Anterior pituitary

ACTH

Cortisol

Then back to hypothalamus

Inhibin to inhibit ovary and testes

Types of tumors

Alpha subunit no signs or symptoms 

Microadenoma, macroadenoma

Mass effects

Headache, visual disturbance, neurological damage

Impaired pit function...hypopituitarism

Hypersecretion 

Acromegaly

Hands, feet, facial swelling, sleep apnea, snoring, tall, oily skin, increased soft tissue, Goliath, carpal tunnel

TMJ, osteoarthritis

Metabolic changes

Organ enlargement, hypertension

Cushing's

ACTH, cortisol

Acne, hirsuitism, striae, other usual symptoms

Therapy

Surgery

Drugs keto, mifepristone, pasireotide

Radiation stereotactic, gamma knife can cause hypopituitarism

Hypopituitarism

• Primary, Sheehan's syndrome uncommon today
• Genetic

Secondary

• Trauma
• Tumor
• Iatrogenic
• Traumatic brain injury
• Anorexia
• Tumors
• Steroids

Clinical features

• Acute
• Slow

Hypo clinical features

Diagnosis, testing

Q&A