Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

5 mm pituitary tumor possible symptoms

I was wondering if it's possible for a 5 mm tumor of the pituitary to cause vision problems? I was diagnosed with one almost a year ago, but the endo said it couldn't possibly affect my vision, as it's not near the optic chiasm. But maybe it's pressing on nearby structures and that's the reason my vision is getting crappier by the minute? God, I'm no doctor, I don't really know how these things work, that's why I'm asking...somebody else. Because my endo HAS been wrong plenty of times in the past, (including the fact that she didn't believe I had a tumor in the first place).
To be fair though, ocular hypertension is the condition I feel like I'm experiencing, but I just want to be sure that my pituitary tumor is not in any way responsible for my vision problems before I focus on other symptoms I've been having for the past 5 years.
10 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
So, I mean, how did they get discovered, in the end? What symptoms did you have and what pointed the doctors in the right direction?  
Would you mind giving me a list of all the hormones I need to get checked?

Another thing that I discovered is that I enjoy brief moments of clarity, when my body isn't weak, the pressure in my head is gone and I can think clearly, (in other words, be myself again). The first time I noticed that was 4-5 years ago, when I went to have some blood work done after my period was almost 2 month late. At the time I had an irrational fear of needles, (I was only 13 then) and so i kinda struggled and squirmed and cried for a while. After the whole deal was done, I noticed how clear everything was and how I was feeling normal again, (after aprox. a year since I started feeling sick). But this only lasted for 20 min or so, then everything got back to 'normal'. So I was thinking maybe the whole thing is linked to the fight-or-flight response, somehow?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I personally like free T3 and Free T4.
My prolactin was only barely abnormal, like yours, and I had full lactation and a lesion.
In the end, I had two, and two separate pituitary diseases. So I would hope they would test all hormones. Prolactin is effected by a lot of things.

I don't know about the volume issue.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My T3 and T4 were normal. As for the others,(and yes, rumpled, they were done at 8am fasting) :

  -TSH 4.1445 uUl/ml (0.53-3.59 uUl/ml);
  -Free T4 0.93 ng/dL (0.93-1.60 ng/dL);
  -Prolactin 36.62 ng/ml (5.18-26.53 ng/ml);

I'm sorry it took me a rather long time to respond to your posts, rumpled and KatesGram, I've been out of town and with no internet access. I'm home now, though, and trying to be focused.

Another thing that my mri has shown was "disproportionately aspect between the subarchanoid liquidian spaces volume and the ventricular volume and the cerebral parenchyma volume, unfavourable to the parenchyma". Is this relevant at all, for anything. I've been told that this is due to my headshape and i have nothing to worry about, but I don't even know what it means... :(

Helpful - 0
8149410 tn?1399084012
You need to make sure that your free T4 was checked because pituitary tumors cause central or secondary hypothryroidism. The TSH can be normal or even low. As for the vision, I just noticed it getting better after starting cabergoline to shrink my tumor and mentioned it to the endo. She looked a little surprised but didn't argue.

Confession -- I AM a physician -- and I still had to change endos when my BP was 80/50 from too high a cabergoline dose and the first endo was nore worried about whether or not I had PIMPLES than whether I could stand up and work!!

As a PCP, this whole diagnosis and experience has left me rather horrified about the state of medicine. I was taught to treat the patient not the labs. But you don't ignore the labs either.

Sorry had to vent -- it's been a long 9 months -- be your own best advocate and read everything you can find and understand on the internet about your   condition.

Good luck to you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Wait - your prolactin was high but they are saying *inactive* - find another endo.
Find a pituitary center.

Did they do any other hormone tests other than TSH and prolactin - and was it at 8am fasting?

What was your TSH?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm glad to hear that, KatesGram :)
My problem is that I cannot convince my endo, (or any endo, for that matter-I've seen quite a few) that my vision problems relate to the adenoma. Like, did your doctor give you some sort of explanation for your improved vision after the treatment?
Also, she only gave me treatment for subclinical hypothyroidism.
Helpful - 0
8149410 tn?1399084012
PS I'm on my second endo
Helpful - 0
8149410 tn?1399084012
I started with a 7mm x 5mm x 5 mm prolactinoma 9 months ago. It is slowly shrinking now 4mm x 5mm x 5mm after cabergoline treatment. My vision is much improved even though it was no where near my optic chiasm. My visual field testing was also normal. My problems were difficulty seeing in low light and blurred vision that would come and go. I have not had new glasses since before diagnosis and my vision is a ton better!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for the reply, rumpled.
Inactive tumor, is what they told me, though at the time I took the tests, my tsh and prolactin were high.
I've done a test to see if my pheripheral vision was affected, and it wasn't.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
What type of tumor?

If you don't know, then  your endo has dropped the ball. Find a pituitary center.

Yes, your tumor is too small to press on the optic nerve, but other tumors can effect say, the muscles or the bones.

You should also see a neuro-optho for a check up.

Always get copies of your tests. If your doc is only checking prolactin, your doc iis not checking for all the tumor types.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Brain/Pituitary Tumors Community

Top Cancer Answerers
Avatar universal
Northern, NJ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Here are 15 ways to help prevent lung cancer.
New cervical cancer screening guidelines change when and how women should be tested for the disease.
They got it all wrong: Why the PSA test is imperative for saving lives from prostate cancer
Everything you wanted to know about colonoscopy but were afraid to ask
A quick primer on the different ways breast cancer can be treated.
Get the facts about this disease that affects more than 240,000 men each year.