AHN Pituitary Center

• Acromegaly: This is a condition caused by excessive growth hormone production in adulthood, leading to enlarged hands, feet, and facial features. Learn more about our treatment approach to acromegaly.
• Cushing's syndrome: When the pituitary gland produces too much of the hormone adrenocorticotropic (ACTH), the adrenal gland is stimulated and starts producing too much cortisol, which causes Cushing’s syndrome. Learn more about our treatment approach to Cushing’s syndrome.
• Prolactinoma: This is a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland that produces excessive amounts of the hormone prolactin, which can cause irregular menstrual cycles, decreased libido and headaches.
• Non-functioning adenomas: This is a benign (noncancerous) tumor that is found in the pituitary gland. It doesn’t produce excess hormones, but instead can cause symptoms from the tumor pressing on surrounding internal structures like the optic nerve.
• Hypopituitarism: A condition where the pituitary gland does not produce enough of one or more of its hormones and causes chronic fatigue, generalized weakness, cold intolerance, and unintended weight changes.
• Diabetes insipidus: A rare disorder characterized by excessive thirst and urination due to a problem with the hormone vasopressin (ADH).
• Craniopharyngioma: A rare, benign brain tumor that develops near the pituitary gland and can affect its function and surrounding structures. It can cause visual impairment, severe headaches, growth delays in pediatric patients, and fatigue.
• Lymphocytic hypophysitis: This s a rare autoimmune condition characterized by inflammation of the pituitary gland, most frequently occurring in women during late pregnancy or the postpartum period. This inflammation can cause pituitary enlargement and lead to hormone deficiencies by impairing normal gland function and results in severe headaches, low blood pressure, exhaustion, and vision issues.
• Rathke's Cleft Cyst: A noncancerous fluid-filled sac located in the pituitary gland that can sometimes grow and cause symptoms that include headaches, and vision issues.

Your pituitary neuroendocrine team

Patients dealing with these complex endocrine and pituitary conditions require specialized, coordinated care. At AHN, our patients benefit from a collaborative team approach where endocrinologists, neurosurgeons, and other specialists conduct joint visits during the same appointment. By meeting your specialized team simultaneously, you can receive seamless, continuous support from start to finish, spanning both pre-surgical planning and post-operative recovery.

This coordinated model eliminates fragmented care, resulting in fewer office visits, enhanced communication, and increased efficiency that ultimately drives better health outcomes for our patients. Additionally, our team can work closely with each patient's original endocrinologist, for a smooth transition of care back to their primary provider once treatment is complete. Patients consistently share how much they value this unified approach and knowing their care is fully coordinated every step of the way.

Our pituitary neuroendocrine team includes physicians who have specialized training and years of experience treating patients with pituitary conditions. Your care team may include:

• Neurosurgeons
• Endocrinologists
• Head and neck surgeons
• Ophthalmologists
• Neuro-oncologists
• Radiologists
• Radiation oncologists

North American Skull Base Society

AHN is designated as a Multidisciplinary Team of Distinction by the North American Skull Base Society. This means AHN is recognized for its clinical excellence, cross-specialty collaboration, and patient-centered care for conditions that affect the brain, head, and neck—which include pituitary disorders. The North American Skull Base Society promote information about diseases involving the skull base, including the anatomy, physiology, pathology, and clinical management, in order to facilitate coordinated excellence in the delivery of care to patients, and to promote advancement of the scientific basis for treatment of patients with skull base disorders.

This gives AHN physicians access to the latest medical research, shared breakthroughs, and advanced training from leading national experts. This close-knit network allows our doctors to stay at the cutting edge of medicine, continuously sharpening their skills so they can deliver the most advanced and effective treatments to their patients.

Common questions about pituitary gland disorders care

Given the breadth of pituitary gland disorders, it’s common to have questions. Your AHN care team is here to answer all your questions, but to help get you started and give you some background information, we’ve included some common questions our patients have about pituitary gland disorders.

What is a pituitary center?

A pituitary center, like the one at AHN, is a dedicated medical group that is focused on providing specialized care for pituitary conditions and disorders. Having a specific center helps patients connect with the doctors, neurosurgeons, and other care providers who can help make a significant difference in their health.

What does a pituitary specialist do?

A pituitary specialist is a medical expert who focuses exclusively on diagnosing and managing disorders of the pituitary gland, such as hormone imbalances and tumors. Because the pituitary gland sits right at the base of the brain and acts as the master controller for the body's hormones, a pituitary specialist is frequently a neuroendocrinologist. In specialized medical centers, like at AHN, these terms often go hand-in-hand to describe a physician with advanced training in both brain-related (neurological) and hormone-related (endocrinological) conditions.