would a ct scan of the head show a pituatary tumor.

[philip314]

For about a year i was feeling cold all the time, fatigued, lost lots of weight and have a frequent high pulse. I also have a sharp pain in one specific part of my head that come and goes. I was born 2 months premature and I had an intracranial hemorrhage (when i was born). I went to my doctor, who did an ecg, Ct scan of my head without contrast and some blood tests. He concluded that since i'm 16 it's probbably just stress or anxiety. The symptoms are still going on and eventually i started seeing a naturopath doctor who thinks i have a problem with my pituatary gland. Would the tests i had done shown anything. Should i do an mri of my head?

[philip314]

i forgot to mention that i frequently feel dizzy and of balance as well.

[kayla4brains]

Of course I'm going to be on high alert about all of this because I did have a pituitary tumor, but the cold could be a symptom of hypothyroidism (although I'm not really sure about the weight loss or high pulse..  Usually weight gain goes along with a slowing of the pituitary functions)
I would always want to err on the side of caution and get an MRI if you can.  My CT scan was negative and my MRI showed a fairly large pituitary tumor.  Good luck and keep us posted.

[philip314]

I was checked for thyriod disorders and they didn't find anything. I am going to see my doctor again next week and ask for an mri.

[rumpled]

A CT rarely shows pituitary issues unless it is very large.

An MRI will not unless it is ordered properly as well - it needs to be dynamic (with and without contrast, and pictures taken while contrast is given). An experienced center is best as they can goof this up - i.e. I went to a bad center and my pics were black.

Having a brain bleed may make you more susceptible - I would ask for a full check up and a regular thyroid panel (TSH and T4) is not useful.

[philip314]

Thanks, i thought a regular mri would be enough. I'll be sure to mention that.

[philip314]

rumpled, you mention that a regular thyroid panel wouldn't be useful. I don't really understand what you mean. Could you maybe explain it more. I had a test for thyriod problems, that was negative, but i have most of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

[rumpled]

Usually, a doc checks off "thyroid panel" and that for most labs test two, yes two, things, - which is TSH and T4. The TSH tests what the pituitary is telling the thyroid to do and the plain T4 is not a very usually test in of itself. Also, most labs still have the incorrect range for TSH.

To really know what the thyroid is doing - you would want the Free T3 and free T4 which test what the thyroid actually is doing. Then the antibody tests to see if the thyroid is diseased - if hyper, graves, if hypo, hashimoto's. Some people I have heard have both.

Look around at the thyroid board here as well for guidance.

[philip314]

thanks, that makes more sense.