Prominence of the pituitary gland?

[OfConcern]

I participated in a study a few months ago which involved me having an MRI scan (I did this study purely out of interest to receive the scan image and to help out people who need volunteers).  I recently received a letter from someone who reviewed all the scans saying that I have a slight prominence of the pituitary gland.  In the letter the gentleman says that the prominence is "very uncertain" but that he could refer me to one of his colleagues if I wanted to do anything further (i.e. blood tests).

I have had blood tests in late 2008 (before the study and for unrelated reasons) and nothing odd was found.  Also, I will not be staying in the health authority's area much longer - am I unduly worried for nothing, and should I bother to go any further?  I would be very grateful if anyone could tell me what a "slight prominence of the pituitary gland" could be a sign of, if anything at all.

[OfConcern]

I forgot to add I am a 22 year old female, with no outstanding health problems I am aware of.

[OfConcern]

Argh, sorry to post again, but that should read "...the gentleman says that the [significance] of the prominence..."

[ggreg]

That prominence may be your pituitary gland is swolled up for some reason, and that CAN be serious if it's a benign tumor growing there or something significant like that.  See, that's one of the endocrine glands, the "master gland" so to speak, and it tells the thyroid, adrenals, ovaries, and other glands how much hormone to secrete at what time.  Well, if your pituitary doesn't function right, your whole body will react, and you'll get mighty sick.

You said you had bloodwork, but unless you have specialized endocrine tests done, it won't show a thing about your pituitary.  I think you should definitely agree with that doc, to refer you to whomever he has in mind, and let them do further tests.  You're in the exact right place if something is wrong with your pituitary.  This is because it sits right in the center of the brain, kind of between the eyeballs, and it's in a little cavity...if it grows, it has nowhere to go, and it'll cause damage to it.  Then you wind up on hormone treatment for the rest of your days.  And heaven forbid, if it's got a cancer on it, it can spread.

So, yes, take up that doc on his suggestion, even tho the possibility is slim that anything is wrong with your pituitary.  If for some reason you can't stick around long enough to see whomever you get referred to, see will he locate a doc in your hometown for you to see.  They can always send you back or whatever if something is wrong.  But don't worry too much about this; just get it checked out to be safe.