Pituitary insufficiency: specialists and information

Pituitary insufficiency (hypopituitarism) is the term used to describe hypofunction of the pituitary gland (hypophysis). The condition can manifest itself in a deficiency of one or more hormones of the pituitary gland.

Below you will find further information and selected specialists for the treatment of pituitary insufficiency.

ICD codes for this diseases: E23

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Article overview

Causes of pituitary insufficiency

There are many causes of pituitary insufficiency. It can be idiopathic (i.e. the cause is unknown) or caused by

Anatomie der Hypophyse und des Hypothalamus im Gehirn
The pituitary gland is located directly below the brain © bilderzwerg | AdobeStock

    Symptoms of pituitary insufficiency

    Symptoms vary depending on which hormones are deficient.

    Commonly described symptoms include

    • Disorders of the menstrual cycle (increased or decreased bleeding or bleeding frequency),
    • Disturbance of the development of primary sexual organs with possible absence of puberty,
    • Disorders of growth (short stature),
    • diabetes insipidus and
    • disorders of fat metabolism.

    Recognizing pituitary insufficiency

    Due to the various symptoms, the diagnosis must be made in several directions.

    First of all, the patient is questioned in detail in order to record the symptoms and their duration as accurately as possible.

    This is followed by laboratory diagnostics: basal hormone diagnostics and, in some cases, endocrinological functional diagnostics to check the individual sub-functions of the pituitary gland.

    Pituitary insufficiency is often caused by tumors in the area of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland. Imaging diagnostics must therefore also be carried out.

    Treating pituitary insufficiency

    Depending on the cause, pituitary insufficiency is treated with medication or surgery.

    In drug therapy, the various hormones that the body does not produce or does not produce sufficiently are reduced.

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